malawi case study plan sweden

8/3/2019 Malawi Case Study Plan Sweden

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Intgrng Chilrns Prcipon n Commnit Rsponsswith

Th Nonl Chil Protcon Sstm in Mlwi

CaSe STudy


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CONTeNTS

acknowlgmnts...............................................................................................4

acronms................................................................................................................5

Smmr................................................................................................................6

Min rcommnons........................................................................................7

1. Strengthen child centred approaches....................................................7

2. Support and security for

community-ownedchildproteconresponses.......................................8

3. Supporttoformalchildproteconsystems...........................................8

4. Strengthentheroleoflocalandnaonalcivilsociety............................8

1. Introcon.....................................................................................................9

1.1. Aims........................................................................................................9

1.2. Methodology.........................................................................................10

1.3.Limitaons.............................................................................................10

2. Violnc aginst Chilrn.............................................................................12

2.1. Internaonally.......................................................................................122.2. In Malawi..............................................................................................12

3. Intrnonl Frmworks for Chil Protcon...........................................15

3.1.TheUNConvenonontheRightsoftheChild.....................................15

3.2.TheAfricanCharterontheRightsandWelfareofChildren..................16

3.3. The UN Study on Violence Against Children.........................................16

4. Intrnonl trns in rssing Violnc aginst Chilrn....................17

4.1.Childproteconsystems.......................................................................18

4.2. Communitybasedresponsestochildprotecon.................................19

5. Plns Chil Protcon Progrmm in Mlwi.............................................19

5.1.ThedevelopmentbyPlanofamul-levelsystemsapproach...............20

5.2 Projectacvies....................................................................................22

5.3.Projectachievementsandchallenges...................................................26


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6. Lssons Lrnt n Bst Prccs................................................................35

6.1. Preservingthebestinterestsofthechild.............................................35

6.2. Childrensparcipaon.........................................................................35

6.3. Communitychildproteconresponses................................................37

6.4. Amul-levelapproach..........................................................................40

7. Conclsions n Rcommnons.............................................................42

7.1. Strengthen child centred approaches...............................................42

7.2. Support and security for community-

ownedchildproteconresponses....................................................43 7.3. Supporttoformalchildproteconsystems......................................44

7.4. Strengthentheroleoflocalandnaonalcivilsociety......................45

appnix:

1 Notesonthechildproteconorganisaonalstructures

shown in the diagram........................................................................46


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4 |CaseStudyMALAWI

acknowlgmnts

Theauthorwouldliketosincerelythankallthosewhomadethewringofthis

case study possible. First, Id like to acknowledge the strength and courage ofthechildrenandcommunitymemberswhocollaboratewithPlanMalawi,and

whoworktoimprovethewellbeingofchildrenintheircommunies,oeninthe

faceofgreatdicules.Theycontributedinvaluablytothebaselinestudy,tothe

evaluaon of the child protecon project and to the project visit that was

conductedinpreparaonforthewringofthiscasestudy.

ThestaofPlanMalawianditspartners,parcularlyPlansKasunguProgramme

UnitandthemembersoftheKasunguDistrictChildProteconCommiee,also

gaveoftheirvaluablemetodiscusstheirchildproteconacvies.Theparci -

pants in the workshop that was conducted in Lilongwe also contributed greatly to

thereviewofthestatusofMalawisnaonalchildproteconsystems.

ThewholeprocesswasveryablyoverseenbyMacDonaldMumba,ChildRights

Adviser,PlanMalawiandVeraGahm,ChildProteconAdviser,PlanSweden,who

providedtheirowninsightsandgreatsupport.

Finally,AkinboroBolaji,CountryDirectorofPlanMalawiandAnnaHgg-Sjquist,

NaonalDirectorofPlanSweden,gavetheirfullbackingtotheprojectwithout

whichitcouldnothavebeenrealised.


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CaseStudyMALAWI |5

acronms

ACRWC AfricanCharterontheRightsandWelfareofChildren

CRC ConvenonontheRightsoftheChildINGO Internaonalnon-governmentorganisaon

NGO Non-governmentalorganisaon

SIDA SwedishInternaonalDevelopmentAgency

UDHR UniversalDeclaraononHumanRights

UNICEF UnitedNaonsChildrensFund

VAC Violence Against Children

VSU VicmSupportUnit


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6 |CaseStudyMALAWI

Smmr

ConsiderableeortshavebeenmadebygovernmentandcivilsocietyinMalawi

tostrengthenandcoordinateresponsestoviolenceagainstchildren.Asapartofthisendeavour,between2008and2010PlanMalawiimplementedtheproject

StrengtheningDistrictChildProteconSystems,withfundingfromtheSwedish

InternaonalDevelopmentAgency(SIDA).Theprojectbuiltontheexperience

thatPlanMalawihadgainedsince2002insupporngcommunitychildprotec-

onresponses.

Theevaluaonof theprojecthasbeenusedasanopportunitytoproducethis

analycalcasestudy.Thecasestudyisbasedon:areviewofrecentliteratureon

naonalchildproteconsystems;a2006reviewbyPlanofchildproteconin

Malawiwhichservedasthebase-linestudyfortheproject;theexternalevalua-

onoftheproject;andaprojectvisittoMalawi,whichincludedaworkshopwith

stafromPlananditspartnerstoreviewthestatusofMalawischildprotecon

system.

Theinternaonalhumanrightstreaes,includingtheConvenonontheRights

oftheChild(CRC)andtheAfricanCharterontheRightsandWelfareofChildren

(ACRWC),areunequivocalinupholdingchildrensrighttoproteconagainstall

formsofviolence.However, theUNStudyonViolenceAgainstChildren(VAC)

concluded that violenceagainst childrenconstutes a seriousglobalproblem.

RecentstudiesinMalawialsoconrmthatviolenceisacommonchildhoodexpe -

rience that has considerable social acceptance.

Inialchildproteconeortsindevelopingcountriesfocusedmainlyonchildren

atparcularrisk,suchaschildlabourersandstreetchildren.Thisneglectedthe

violenceexperiencedbychildrenintheirownhomes,schoolsandcommunies.

TherecommendaonsoftheUNStudygaveimpetustotheworkofinternaonal

NGOstosupportgovernmentstocreatecomprehensivenaonalchildprotecon

systemsthataimtoaddresstheviolenceexperiencedbyallchildren.

Recentworkontheadaptaonofnaonalchildproteconsystemstothesocial,

culturalandeconomiccontextsofdevelopingcountrieshaveresulted insomeconsensus on the key components of those systems. The key components were

used as a reference for this case study.

PlanMalawischildproteconprojectadoptedamul-levelapproach,akeycom-

ponentbeingthefacilitaonofchildrensparcipaonandtheopeningofoppor-

tuniesforchildrentointeractwithdecision-makersatthecommunity,district

andnaonallevels.


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CaseStudyMALAWI |7

Theprojectconsistedofsupporttothefollowingmainareasofacvity:

Thepromoonofchildrensparcipaon

Supporttocommunitychildproteconstructuresandresponses

Strengtheningdistrictchildproteconstructuresandresponses

Developmentofanenablingnaonalenvironmentforchildprotecon

Manygainsweremadeintheseareasofacvity,resulnginconsiderablere-

cognionwithinMalawioftheapproachadoptedbyPlananditspartners.The

environment inMalawi remainschallenging,however,parcularly in termsof

culturalatudestowardschildren,thelackofscaleandreachofchildprotecon

services,scarcehumanandnancialresources,theabsenceofunifyingnaonal

childproteconpolicies,andtheoverlappingmandatesofthemanyministries

withresponsibilitytowardschildrenwhichmakescoordinaonandpolicy-making

dicult.

DuetoPlanMalawislongandconsistenthistoryofworkonchildproteconand

itswillingnesstoreectonitsexperience,manylessonslearntwereidenedas

aresultoftheprojectexperience.Thesehavebeenusedtoformulatethefollowing

asetofrecommendaons.

Min rcommnons

These recommendaons are aimed primarily at Plan management and pro-

grammesta,butarealsoofrelevancetoothercivilsocietyorganisaoinsand

governmentorganisaonsworkingonchildprotecon.

1. Strngthn chil cntr pprochs

Child centred approachesrequire sustained supportover aperiodof yearsto

allownecessarychangesinatudesandpraccestobeadoptedandsustained.

Praccalmechanismsshouldbeputinplacetoensurethatthebestinterests

ofchildrenarepreservedinchildproteconresponses.Theseinclude:building

responsesbasedontheresultsofqualityparcipatoryresearchwithchildren;

promongchildrensparcipaonatalllevels;andensuringthattheirviewsare

givendueweightinchildproteconiniaves.Child-friendlyproteconpracces

should be adopted, including community based psychosocial support. The out-

comesofchildproteconacvies,includingthereporngandmanagementof

cases,shouldbemonitoredfortheirimpactonchildren,andusedtoimprove

childproteconprocesses.


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8 |CaseStudyMALAWI

2. Spport n scrit for commnit-own chil

protcon rsponssCommunitybased responses toviolenceagainst childrenarenecessary for its

prevenon,andforsupporttochildrenandtheirfamilies.

Thecapacityoftheformalchildproteconserviceandofcivilsocietyshouldbe

builttoprovidesustainedsupporttocommunity-basedresponsesthatencourage

community ownership throughvoluntarism.Posive non-violentatudesand

behaviour thatbuildonexisngposivetradionalpraccestowardschildren

shouldbepromoted.Primaryjuscesystems,whichtendtomakedecisionsthat

areprejudicialtovulnerablegroups,shouldbetransformedtoenabledecision-

makingthatisinthebestinterestsofwomenandchildren.Aenonshouldbegiventothesecurityofadultandchildrensgroupsthroughacvecollaboraon

withtradionalleadersandcommunitypolice.

3. Spport to forml chil protcon sstms

Communitybasedchildproteconresponsesneedtobebalancedbythedevelop-

mentofformalchildproteconsystems.

Formalchildproteconsystemsarenecessarytosupportcommunityeorts,to

raisethegeneralpublicsawarenessofchildprotecon,toenhanceprevenon

andtoensureanadequateresponsetoreportedcases.TheexperienceofMalawipoints inparcular to the valueand necessity ofmul-disciplinary coordina-

onbodiesatnaonalanddistrictlevelsforthedevelopmentofeecvechild

proteconsystems.

InternaonalNGOscanplayanacveroleinpromongcoordinaonandsup-

porngchildren,communies,civilsocietyandthegovernmenttoworktogether

tobuildeecveresponsestoviolenceagainstchildren.

4. Strngthn th rol of locl n nonl civil socit

Internaonal NGOs have a parcular responsibility tonurture thecapacityoflocalandnaonalcivilsocietytosupportchildproteconresponsesbycommuni-

esandbygovernment.

PlanisunusualasanINGOtohaveapresenceclosetocommuniesandalsoat

thedistrictandnaonallevels.Thisenablesittoadoptmul-levelapproaches

that are sensive to the realies of childrens lives.However, Plan should be

the facilitator of this process, rather than the principle actor. It should build the

capacityoflocalandnaonalcivilsocietytoprovideeecvesupporttocom-

munity responses to violence against children, and to lobby government for

improvedandenforcedlegislaonandservicedelivery.


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CaseStudyMALAWI |9

1. Introcon

InthetwodecadessincetheConvenonontheRightsoftheChild(CRC),increa-

singaenonhasbeengiventochildrensrighttoprotecon.Iniallythiswas

focusedonspeciccategoriesofchildrenwhowerethoughttobeparcularly

vulnerable toviolenceandwere inspecialneedofprotecon, suchasstreet

children, child labourers and child soldiers.

By the middle of the last decade, awareness was growing that the root causes

ofviolenceagainstthesedierentgroupsofchildrenweresimilar,aswerethe

aconsrequiredtoaddressthem,andthatamoreholiscandcomprehensive

approachtoprotecngchildrenwasneeded.Inaddion,workingwithchildren

onagroupbygroupbasisledtotheneglectofthosewhowerelessvisible,such

aschildreninabusivehomesituaons.

The2006UNStudyonViolenceAgainstChildren(VAC)foundthatviolenceagainst

childrenisprevalentineverysocietyandthatittakesplacemostfrequentlyin

childrenshomes,schoolsandcommunies.Itcalledforgovernmentstodevelop

mul-facetedandsystemacframeworkstorespondtoviolenceagainstchildren.

Thishasgivenimpetustotheworkofgovernmentsandnon-governmentorgani -

saonstodevelopnaonalchildproteconsystemsthatcanrespondtothepro -

teconrightsofallchildren.

Overthelastfewyears,considerableeortshavebeenmadebygovernmentand

civilsocietyinMalawitostrengthenandcoordinateresponsestoviolenceagainstchildren.Aspartofthisendeavour,overthelasttwoyearsPlanMalawihasbeen

workingwithfundingfromtheSwedishInternaonalDevelopmentAgency(SIDA)

tosupportthedevelopmentofdistrictchildproteconsystemsinMalawi.The

projectbuiltontheexperiencethatPlanMalawihadgainedsince2002insup-

porngcommunitychildproteconresponses.

Theprojectusedamul-levelapproachinwhichchildrensparcipaonandthe

integraonofcommunityresponseswiththeformalchildproteconsystemwere

key.Theevaluaonoftheprojecthasbeenusedasanopportunitytoproduce

thisanalycalcasestudy.SomerststepshavebeentakentowardsmappingthestatusofMalawischildproteconsystemsandtheroleofcivilsocietyinpromo-

ngcoordinatedresponsestoviolenceagainstchildren.

1.1. aims

ThiscasestudyanalysestheachievementsandchallengesofPlanMalawisproject

StrengtheningDistrictChildProteconSystems,sengitinthecontextofMa-

lawisnaonalchildproteconsystem,anddrawingoutsomerecommendaons

basedonthisexperience.


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Theaimofthecasestudyisto:

1. Tocontributetothebodyofevidenceonchildproteconpracce.

2. Toprovideexamplesoflessonslearntandbestpraccesthatcanbeused

toexchangeexperiencesandbuildallianceswithinPlansglobalorgani-

saonandwithgovernmentandnon-governmentpartnerswithinMalawi

and elsewhere.

3. To provide evidence that will strengthen Plans approach to violence

againstchildrenandchildrensparcipaon,includingitsadvocacywork

andcollaboraonwiththeUNSpecialRepresentaveonViolenceagainst

Children.

1.2. Mthoolog

Severalsourcesandacvieshavecontributedtothedevelopmentofthiscase

study.Theliteratureonviolenceagainstchildrenwasreviewed,parcularlyasit

relatestonaonalchildproteconsystems.Thestudydrewonthe2006review

ofchildproteconinMalawiconductedbyPlanasabaselinefortheSIDA-funded

project,StrengtheningDistrictChildProteconSystems.Thisprojectwasimple -

mentedfrom2008to2010.Thecasestudyincludesinsightsfromtheexternal

evaluaonoftheprojectcarriedoutinearly20101.

Aprojectvisitwasconductedbythemainauthorofthiscasestudy,togetherwith

PlanSwedensChildProteconAdviser.Thisvisitconsistedofconsultaonswith

children,communitymembers,partnersandPlanstainKasunguDistrict,and

meengswithnaonalpartners.

Aspartoftheprojectvisit,aone-dayworkshopwasheldtoreviewthestatus

ofMalawisnaonalchildproteconsystem.Theparcipantswererepresenta-

vesfromPlansta,itscivilsocietypartnerorganisaonsandtheMalawiHuman

RightsCommission.DiscussionsonMalawischildproteconsystemwasbased

onkeycompenents(seesecon4.1forcomponentsofanaonalchildprotecon

system).

1.3. Limitons

This case study sets Plan Malawis child protecon project in the context of

Malawisedglingnaonalchild protecon system. Thestatusof thenaonal

childproteconsystemwasreviewedfromtheliteratureandduringabriefone

dayworkshopwithrepresentavesfromPlanandsomeofitsnaonalpartners.

TherehasnotyetbeenathoroughandsystemacreviewofMalawisnaonal

childproteconsystem.

1 TheevaluaonwasconductedbyBrowneandGreenwoodLtd.ofLilongwe.


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CaseStudyMALAWI |11

Themainmethodologyusedtoconsultwithchildrenandcommuniesduringthe

baselinesurvey,theevaluaonandthecasestudyvisitwerefocusgroupdiscus-

sions.MorerigorousqualitaveandquantaveapproachestotheevaluaonofchildproteconprogrammesneedtobedevelopedbyPlan.

MostoftheexamplesandquotaonscontainedinthisstudyarefromPlanswork

inKasunguDistrict.Thisisbecausetheprojectvisitsconductedaspartofthe

2006reviewofchildprotecontookplaceinKasungu.Theauthorreturnedto

Kasungufor thevisit conducted for this case study forcomparavepurposes.

PlanisalsoimplemenngthechildproteconprojectinLilongwe,Mulanjeand

MzuzuDistricts.

Parcipantsatworkattheone-dayworkshoponMalawisnaonalchild

proteconsystem


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2. Violnc ginst Chilrn

2.1. Intrnonll

TheUN VACstudy concluded that violenceagainst childrenexists inallsocie-esandiswidespread,constungagraveglobalproblem 2.Theprevalenceof

violenceagainstchildrenisdiculttodeterminebecause itisunder-reported.

Thisisduetofear,socialtoleranceandthelackofsafesystemsforreporng.

Aseriesofrecentstudiesatlocalandinternaonallevelshaveindicatedthat:

80-98% of children suerphysical punishment in their homes,with a

thirdofthemexperiencingseverephysicalpunishmentwiththeuseof

implements 3.

therstsexualexperienceofupto48%ofadolescentgirlsandupto32%of boys is forced 4.

218millionchildrenworldwideareinchildlabour,ofwhom126million

are in hazardous work 5.

Violence has serious immediate and long term consequences for children in

termsoftheirphysical,mental,emoonal,socialandeconomicwellbeingand

development.

2.2. In Mlwi

InMalawi,studiesconrmthatviolenceagainstchildrenisverycommon:

24%ofMalawianschoolchildrenaged9to18yearsreporthavingbeen

forcedtohavesexagainsttheirwill. This happensmostfrequentlyat

home and at school 6.

37%ofchildrenaged5to17yearsareengagedinchildlabour(workthat

isdetrimentaltotheirhealth,safetyandeducaon) 7.

Althoughgirlsexperienceviolenceinschoolmorefrequentlythanboys,bullying,

physicalandsexualviolenceiscommonamongboysaswell.

2 UNSecretaryGeneral.(2006).ReportoftheindependentexpertfortheUnitedNaonsStudy

onViolenceAgainstChildren.UNGeneralAssembly.3

ibid.4 KrugE.etal.(2002).WorldReportonViolenceandHealth.WHO

5 ILO. (2006). The end of child labour: within reach. Global report under the follow up to the ILO

DeclaraononFundamentalPrinciplesandRightsatWork.ReportoftheDirectorGeneral.ILOGeneva.6 Burton,P.(2005)Sueringat School.ResultsoftheMalawiGender-basedViolencein SchoolsSurvey.

CrimeandJusceStascsDivision.NaonalStascsOce.7 NaonalStascsOce,MinistryofLabourandVocaonalTraining.(2004).NaonalChildLabour.


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CaseStudyMALAWI |13

Itisesmatedthatthereareover1millionchildreninMalawiwhohavelostoneorbothparents,halfofthesebeingduetoAIDS 8.Childrenwhohavelostparents

areparcularlyatriskofabuse,neglectandexploitaon,andbeingforcedinto

riskycopingstrategiessuchastransaconalsexandworkinginexploitavesitua-

ons 9.

Tradionalculturalpraccesarewide-spreadthroughoutMalawi,someofthem

beingassociatedwithviolenceagainstthechildreninvolved 10,suchas:

childmarriage

praccesinvolvingsexualabuseandearly,unsafesexualacvity femalegenitalcungusingunsafeandunhygienicpracces

Thereisconsiderablesocialacceptanceofviolenceagainstchildren.Onestudy

showedthatchildrenreportonly60%ofincidentsofviolenceinschoolstosome -

oneelse(friend,parentorteacher).Ofthese,aconisonlytakeninabouthalf

ofthecases,mostfrequentlythroughtheissueofawarning.Onlyaverysmall

numberofsexualabusecases,around3%,isreportedtothepolice 11.

Discussionswithchildrenandcommunitymembersprovideddeeperinsightsinto

formsandtrendsofviolencethatchildrenexperience.Thetablebelowshowsthe

mostcommonformsofviolencemenonedbychildrenandcommunitymem-

bersduringgroupdiscussionsconductedbyPlaninLilongweandKasungudis-

tricts during the baseline study of 2006.

8 Governmentof Malawi. (2005). NaonalPlanof AconforOrphans and OtherVulnerable Children

2005-2009.9 Munthali,A.,Mvula,P.,Mandere,G.(2006).ChildProteconinMalawi:AReviewoftheLiterature.10 MalawiHuman Rights Commission. (2006) Cultural Pracces and their Impact on theEnjoyment of

HumanRights,parcularlytheRightsofWomenandChildreninMalawi.

11 Burton,P.(2005)SueringatSchool.ResultsoftheMalawiGender-basedViolenceinSchoolsSurvey. CrimeandJusceStascsDivision.NaonalStascsOce.


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CaseStudyMALAWI |15

3. Intrnonl Frmworks for Chil Protcon

Children should enjoy all the rights set out in the internaonal human rights

framework. These protect the dignity, worth and security of person of all humanbeings.TherighttoproteconwasrstlaiddownasahumanrightintheUniversal

DeclaraonofHumanRights(UDHR).Forexample,Arcle5oftheUDHRguaran-

tees the right to freedom from torture and from cruel, inhuman or degrading

treatment or punishment.

Otherconvenonsandhumanrightsinstrumentsfurtherelaboratetherightto

protecon.Forexample,theproteconofwomenagainstdiscriminaonprovided

bytheConvenononAllFormsofDiscriminaonAgainstWomen(CEDAW)has

beenexpandedbytheCEDAWCommieesGeneralRecommendaon19toin-

cludegender-basedviolence.

3.1. Th uN Convnon on th Rights of th Chil

TheUNCRCprovidesaddionalprotecontochildrenduetotheirposionof

dependenceandvulnerability. Itisunequivocalinupholdingchildrensrightto

proteconagainstallformsofviolence,andhasconsistentlychallengedStates

Parestoprohibitviolenceagainstchildren,howeverlight 14.

Arcle19obligesStatesParestotakeallappropriatemeasurestoprotectthe

childfromall formsofphysicalormentalviolence,injuryorabuse,neglector

negligenttreatment,maltreatmentorexploitaon,includingsexualabuse.

OtherarclesoftheCRCanditstwoOponalProtocolsrefertospecicprotec-

onissues.Theseinclude:illicituse,produconandtrackingofnarcocdrugs;

proteconfromsale,trackingandabducon;tortureorothercruel,inhuman

ordegrading treatment, punishment or school discipline; tradional pracces

prejudicialtohealth;andeectsofarmedconict.

Manyotherarclesarealsorelevanttochildrensproteconfromviolence(such

as the childs right not to be separated from parents unless it is in his or her best

interests;Arcle9).

14Hodgkin,R.,Newell,P.(2007).ImplementaonHandbookfortheConvenonontheRightsoftheChild.UNICEF


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16 |CaseStudyMALAWI

3.2. Th africn Chrtr on th Rights n Wlfr of Chilrn

The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children (ACRWC), whichenteredintoforcein1999,andwhichwasraedbyMalawiin1999,obliges

StatesParestotakespeciclegislave,administrave,socialandeducaonal

measures to protect the child from all forms of torture, inhuman or degrading

treatment,andespeciallyphysicalormentalinjuryorabuse,neglectormaltreat -

mentincludingsexualabuse.

TheACRWCcoverssimilargroundtotheCRCintermsofchildrensprotecon

rights, being stronger in certain aspects and weaker in others. Legally, children

areguaranteedwhicheverprovisionisstrongerintermsoftherealisaonoftheir

rights.The parcular strengthof the ACRWC is that itexpresslyproclaims its

supremacyoveranycustom,tradion,culturalorreligiouspraccethatisincon -

sistentwiththerights,duesorobligaonscontainedinthecharter 15.

3.3. Th uN St on Violnc aginst Chilrn

TheUNSecretaryGeneralsStudyonViolenceAgainstChildrenwaspresented

totheUNGeneralAssemblyinOctober2006.Theconductofthestudyincluded

aseriesofnaonalandregionalconsultaonsinwhichchildrenplayedasigni-

cantrole.Thestudyexaminedviolenceathomeandinthefamily;inschooland

educaonalsengs;withincareandjusceinstuons;atplacesofwork;and

within the community.

Thestudychallengedtheacceptanceofviolenceagainstchildren,itskeymessage

being:Noviolenceagainstchildrenisjusable;allviolenceagainstchildrenis

preventable.

Thestudymadetwelveoverarchingrecommendaonsandspecicrecommen -

daonsforaddressingviolenceineachseng.Therstrecommendaonwas

thatallStatesdevelopamul-facetedandsystemacframeworktorespondto

violenceagainstchildrenwhichisintegratedintonaonalplanningprocesses.

Thisrecommendaonhassmulatedgovernmentandnon-governmentorgani -saonstoexaminehowtheycanworktowardsthedevelopmentofcomprehen-

sivenaonalchildproteconsystems,rather thanaddressingviolenceagainst

children on an issue-by-issue basis.

15Chirwa,D.M.,(2002).ThemeritsanddemeritsoftheAfricanCharterontheRightsandWelfareofthe

Child.InternaonalJournalofChildrensRights.10:157-177.2002.


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CaseStudyMALAWI |17

4. Intrnonl trns in rssing Violncginst Chilrn

It isonlyrecently that thewidespreadanddiverse natureof violenceagainst

childrenhasbeenfullyappreciated,andresponsestoitaresllintheirinfancy.

Child protecon is therefore a relavely new sector comparedwith thoseofhealthandeducaon,andasolidbaseofevidenceonwhichstrategiescanbe

securelyfoundedsllneedstobedeveloped.

Approaches to child protecon evolved from programmes of work with

ChildreninDicultCircumstancesandChildreninSpecialNeedofProtecon

inthe1980sand90s.Childproteconeortswerefocusedonparculargroups

of children who were thought to be most at risk, such as children in the worst

formsofchildlabour,streetchildrenandchildreninconictwiththelaw.

Althoughtheknowledgeandskillsneededtorespondtoparcularchildprotec-onviolaonsareimportantforqualitycare,thefocusonspeciccategoriesof

childrenledtoafragmentedapproachwhichwasinecient,andwhichdidnot

respondtotheviolenceexperiencedbymanychildren.Inparcularitfailedto

acknowledgeandaddressthewidespreadnatureofviolenceagainstchildrenin

theirhomes,schoolsandcommunies.

Thistypeofnarrowfocusonspeciccategoriesofchildrenalsofailstorecognise

thedynamicandchangingnatureofchildrenslivesastheystruggletondsafety

andsecurity.Manychildrenbelongtomorethanonecategoryormovebetween

themoverme.

Forexample,duringaparcipatorystudywithagroupofchildrenworkingon

thetobaccoestatesinMalawi,themajorityofthegroupwerefoundtohavelost

parentstoAIDS16.Thus,thesechildrenarenotonlyworkinginexploitavesitua -

ons,butarealsograpplingwiththedevastangconsequencesofAIDSontheir

families.

In2009theUNSpecialRepresentaveonViolenceagainstChildrenwasappoin-

ted as an independent voice and global advocate to promote acon on the

ndingsofthestudy,andlearningonbestpracces.Inaddion,theCRCCommiee

hasnowstartedtoquesonStatesParesabouttheirresponsetothestudys

ndingsandrecommendaons.

16Clacherty,G.(2008).Hardwork,longhoursandlilepay.Parcipatoryresearchwithchildrenworkingon

tobaccofarmsinMalawi.Plan


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18 |CaseStudyMALAWI

By the early 00s, it was appreciated that more holisc approaches to child

proteconwerenecessary.In2002,UNICEFadoptedanintegratedapproachto

childproteconcalledtheprotecveenvironment.Thisapproachacknowledges

thatsimilaraconsareneededtoprotectchildrenfromallthedierenttypesof

violenceagainstthem,suchaspassingadequatelegislaon,providingessenal

servicesandbuildingchildrenslife-skills.

4.1. Chil protcon sstms

Therstoverarchingrecommendaonof theUNVACStudywasthatallStates

shoulddevelopamulfacetedandsystemacframeworktorespondtoviolence

againstchildren.Someinternaonalorganisaons,suchasSavetheChildrenand

UNICEF,arenowfocussingtheirsupporttochildprotecononthedevelopment

ofcomprehensiveandholiscnaonalchildproteconsystems 17.

Understanding how child protecon systems in developing countries can be

formedinamannerappropriatetotheircontext,ratherthanreplicangWestern

childproteconsystems,isatanearlystage.Researchhas indicatedthatthey

needtobeadaptedtothenaonaleconomic,social,policalandculturalcon-

text,andexibleenoughtorespondtochange,suchastheoccurrenceofemer-

gencysituaons18.Childrensparcipaoninchildproteconsystemsiscrical

toensurethattheyadequatelyacknowledgeandaddresschildrensprotecon

issuesandworkin thechildsbest interests.Publicawarenessandsupport for

childproteconservicesalsoneedtobegenerated.

Childproteconsystemsincludenon-formalresponsesbyfamiliesandcommu-

niestoviolenceagainstchildren,aswellasformalresponsesbygovernment

instuons. Theboundaries betweenchild protecon andother systems that

promotechildhoodwellbeing,suchashealthandeducaon,needtobedelinea-

ted,andclosecollaboraondevelopedbetweenthem.

Naonalchildproteconsystemsshouldprovideeecveprevenveandrespon-

siveservices.Thenecessarystructures,funcons,capaciesandaccountability

systemstosupporttheseservicesneedtobeinplaceatalllevels.

As a result of the inter-agency work that has been done, there is growing consen-

susaroundthekeycomponentsofanaonalchildproteconsystem,though,as

notedabove,thepreciseformwilldependonthecontext.

17 Wulezyn, F et al. (2009). Adapng a Systems Approach to Child Protecon: Key Concepts and

Consideraons.ChapinHall,UniversityofChicago.18ibid.


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CaseStudyMALAWI |19

4.2. Commnit bs rsponss to chil protconCommunityresponsestoviolenceagainstchildrenareessenalcomponentsofa

naonalchildproteconsystem.Withinaresource-poorcountrysuchasMalawi,

they enable larger numbers of children to be reached at lower cost, and facilitate

thelinkbetweenfamiliesandformalchildproteconservices.

ManyINGOssupportcommunitybasedresponsesaspartoftheirchildprotec -

onprogrammesindevelopingcountries.Currently,however,thereisalackof

robustevidenceaboutthebeststrategiestopromotetheireecveness,cost,

scalability and sustainability, though research is being conducted to clarify this20.

Adeskstudyfoundthatthereareseveralfactorsthatinuencetheeecveness

ofcommunitybasedchildprotecongroups.Theseare:communityownership,

buildingonexisngresources,supportfromleaders,childparcipaon,andthe

inclusionofvulnerablegroupsindecision-making.

5. Plns chil protcon progrmm in Mlwi

In2002PlanMalawistartedworkingwithcommunitycommieesandchildrens

groups to raise awareness and to facilitate community responses to violence

against children. As the issue began to be discussed more openly and casesemerged,eortsweremadetolinkcommuniestoareaanddistrictchildprotec-

onservices21.Theseservices,however,wereweakandpoorlydevelopedand

providedlilesupporttocommunityeorts.

19DrawnmainlyfromSCF.Undateddra.ARoughGuidetoChildProteconSystems.

20 Wessels,M.(2009).Whatarewelearningaboutprotecngchildreninthecommunity?Aninteragency

reviewoftheevidenceoncommunitybasedchildproteconmechanismsinhumanitariananddevelop-

mentsengs.SavetheChildren.21

TheVillage,AreaandDistrictaretheadministravelevelsofMalawislocalgovernmentsystem.There are28districtsinthethreeregionsofthecountry.

Componnts of nonl chil protcon sstm 19

Naonalchildproteconlaws,policiesandprogrammes Coordinaonwithinthechildproteconsystemandwithothersectors

Childrensparcipaon

Publicawarenessandsupport

Eecvechildproteconservices

Eecveregulaonandqualitystandards

Knowledgeanddatageneraonandmanagement

Humanandnancialresources


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20 |CaseStudyMALAWI

In2006,areviewofchildproteconinMalawiwasconductedbyPlantoformthe

basisforfurtherdevelopingitschildproteconwork 22. This drew on the study

conducted in Malawi as part of the UN VAC study 23,butalsoincludedndings

fromvisitsandconsultaonswithstakeholdersatthenaonal,districtandcom-

munitylevel.

Thereviewfoundthatthereweremanygapsinlegislaon,therewasnonaonal

childproteconpolicyorprogramme,andchildproteconstructuresandservices

atalllevelswereweakornon-existent.However,throughtheeortsofthemul-

disciplinaryNaonalTechnicalWorkingGrouponChildProtecon,considerable

thoughtandenergywerebeingdevotedtocoordinanggovernmentandnon-

govern-mentalworkonchildprotecon,usingtheprotecveenvironmentconcept.

In2006, the members of the NaonalTechnicalWorking Group had reached

agreementsaboutthechildproteconstructuresthatshouldbeinplaceatthe

areaanddistrictlevels,theirrelaonshiptothenaonalsystemoflocalgovern-

ment and how they should coordinate with, and support, community based child

protecongroups.Therewasalsoconsensusonthetrainingcurriculathatshould

beusedfordierentlevelsofcommunityvolunteerandworker.Thisworkpro -

videdanimportantfoundaonforthesubsequentdevelopmentofPlanMalawis

childproteconworkthroughtheSIDAfundedproject.

5.1. Th vlopmnt b Pln of ml-lvl, sstms pprochDuetotheweaknessofthechildproteconsystematalllevels,andtheneedfor

thistobeimprovedifcommunityresponsesandchildrensparcipaonwereto

ourish,Plandevelopedamul-levelapproachtochildprotecon.

Theproject, fundedby SIDA between2008and2010, involved strengthening

childproteconstructuresandresponsesatthevillage,areaanddistrictlevelsin

thefourdistrictsinwhichPlanworks(namely,Kasungu,Lilongwe,Mulanjeand

Mzuzu)whilstalsocontribungtothedevelopmentofafavourableenvironment

forchildproteconatthenaonallevel.Plansoughttobuildstructuresandto

openopportuniesforchildrentoparcipateateachlevel.

22Plan.(2007).CommunityChildProteconProgramme.Reviewofprogressandrecommendaons.

23MinistryofGender,ChildWelfareandCommunityServices.(2005).StudyonViolenceagainstChildrenin

Malawi.GovernmentofMalawi.


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CaseStudyMALAWI |21

24 PlanMalawiscivilsocietypartnersonchildproteconare:theHumanRightsConsultaveCommiee,

REFORD,YouthWatchSociety,CentreforYouthandChildrenAairs,theMalawiHumanRightsYouth Network;andBiwiYouthOrganisaon.

Plansmainpartnersintheplanningandimplementaonoftheprojectwere:

MinistryofGender,ChildDevelopmentandCommunityDevelopment

MalawiHumanRightsCommission

UNICEF

NaonalTechnicalWorkingGrouponChildProtecon

DistrictChildProteconandChildLabourCommiees

Severalnaonalandlocalcivilsocietyorganisaons 24

Th projct t glnc

Gol

Safeguardchildrensrighttoproteconfromviolence,abuse,neglectandexploi-

taon

Objcvs

Promotechildrensrighttoparcipaonincommunityanddistrictdecision-making

processes

Facilitatethecreaonofcommunitystructurestomonitorandfollowupchild

proteconissues

Strengthentheinstuonalchildproteconframeworkinfourdistricts

Assistinthecreaonofagoodnaonalpolicyandlegalenvironmentforchild

protecon

acvis

Childrensparcipaon

- Establishmentandsupporttocommunity,areaanddistrictChildAdvocacyGroups

- SupporttoMalawisNaonalChildrensParliament

- Opportuniesforchildrentodialoguewithpolicymakersandserviceprovidersat

alllevels

Communitychildproteconstructuresandresponse

- EstablishmentandsupportofcommunityandareaChildProteconCommiees

Districtchildproteconstructuresandresponse

- StrengtheningtheDistrictChildProteconCommiees

- Collaboraonondistrictchildproteconacvies

Anenablingnaonalenvironmentforchildprotecon

- Strengthening civil society to advocate for eecve legislaon, policy and

programmes

- Strengtheningcivilsocietytomonitorandreportonchildproteconissues

- Collaboraononnaonalchildproteconacvies


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22 |CaseStudyMALAWI

5.2. Projct cvis

Chilrns Prcipon

PlanworkedwithitsNGOpartnerstoformRightsoftheChildgroupswithin

schools,andChildrensAdvocacyGroupsatthevillage,areaanddistrictlevels.

These childrens groupsare facilitated by teachers andparacivic educators 25.

Youngpeoplewhopreviouslyparcipatedinthechildrensacviesalsosupport

the childrens groups.

Thechildrenparcipateinraisingawarenessofchildrensrightsintheirschool

andcommunitythroughdierentmedia,suchastheatre,danceandradio.They

idenfy childrenwith problems, oer support, and raise concerns with adultmembersoftheCommunityChildProteconCommiee.Childrenarealsorepre -

sentedontheVillageDevelopmentCommiees.

Childrentakeupthoseissuesthathavenotbeenadequatelyaddressedatcom-

munityleveltotherelevantauthoriesatdistrictlevel.Theymayrequestfora

childrensforumwithpolicyanddecisionmakersatdistrict level,duringwhich

theyfollowuponthedicultissuestheyhaveidened.

Village,area anddistrictassemblieswereconductedwiththeparcipaonof

children,parents,serviceprovidersandrepresentavesoflocalgovernment,to

25 Apara-civiceducatorisacommunityvolunteerwhohasbeenequippedwithknowledgeandskillsto

undertakecommunityawarenessraisingonchildrightsingeneralandchildproteconinparcular.He orshefocusesmuchofhisorheraenononcommunityawareness.raising.

ChildrenandyouthfromaChildAdvocacyGroupinKasungudistrict


23/49

CaseStudyMALAWI |23

enablechildrentointeractwithdutybearers.Childrepresentavesalsotookpart

indebates,andlobbiedpolicymakersatlocalandnaonaleventscelebrang

thecommemoraonofanniversarydayssuchastheDayoftheAfricanChild.

During suchnaonaldays,childrenselectrepresentavestopresentpeons

torelevantauthoriessuchastheMinisterforGender,ChildrenandCommunity

Development.

ChildrenfromDistrictChildAdvocacyGroupswereselectedandpreparedtore-

present theirconstuencies intheannualNaonalChildrensParliament(sup-

portedbytheMinistryofGender,ChildrenandCommunityDevelopment,UNICEF

andPlan).TheSocialandCommunityAairsParliamentaryCommieeistasked

with ensuringthattheresoluonsofthechildrenareacknowledgedandacted

upon by the adult parliament, though it is not yet clear how they will undertakethisresponsibility.Thereistheneedforcivilsocietytomonitorprogressonthis,

andtolobbyforeecveacon.

Commnit chil protcon strctrs n rspons

VillageandAreaChildProteconCommiteeswereetablishedandtrained.The

commieesconsistof menandwomenvolunteerschosenby their communi-

es,whoareprovidedwithabasictrainingonchildrensrightsandchildabuse.

MembersfromtheChildProteconCommiteefromKawiyavillagein

Kasungudistrict


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24 |CaseStudyMALAWI

Onememberofeachcommieereceivedamoreintensetrainingasapara-civic

educator.

Thepara-civiceducatorsandchildproteconcommieemembersfacilitateand

work hand in hand with childrens groups. They raise awareness of child protec-

on issues, and conductparenng classes during which they discuss posive

methodsofraisinganddiscipliningchildren.Theyfacilitatethemediaonofless

seriouschildabusecases(civilcases),andadviseandsupportfamiliesincases

thatneedtobereportedtotheauthories.Theyalsohelpchildrenandtheir

familiesaccesstheservicesofthepolice,healthcentresandmagistratescourt

atthearealevels.

Rsponsibilis of th Pr-Civic ectors n Commnit Chil Protcon Commit-

t mmbrs

Raising awareness in thecommunity of childrens rights, gender and human

rights

Idenfyingandfollowuponchildproteconproblemsinthecommunity

Conducngparenngclasses

Supporngandfacilitangchildrensgroups

Encouragingculturalpraccespromotethewellbeingofchildren;discouraging

parcipaoninthosethatareagainstthebestinterestsofchildren

Helpingtomediatechildproteconissues(civilcases)

Advisingpeoplewheretogethelp,andhelpingtoreportcriminalacons

ParaciviceducatorfromKawiyavilllageinKasungudistrict


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CaseStudyMALAWI |25

Thepara-civiceducatorsandchildproteconcommieesreportto theVillage

andAreaDevelopmentCommiees,workingincollaboraonwiththetradional

authories,communitypolicingvolunteersandschools.

district chil protcon strctrs n rspons

PlanhasstrengthenedtheDistrictChildProteconandChildLabourCommiees

in the districts where it works through training, and through encouraging the co-

ordinaonoftheacviesofdierentgovernmentocesandNGOsworkingon

child protecon.Opportuniesforthe commiees andrepresentavesof the

districtgovernmenttointeractwithchildrenandtheirparentswereprovidedby

organising district child assemblies.

InKasungu,themembersoftheDistrictChildProteconCommiee,withthesup-

portofPlan,extendedCommunityChildProteconCommieesandChildrens

AdvocacyGroupsintoareasthatwerenotincludedinPlansoriginalproject.

an nbling nonl nvironmnt for chil protcon

Plan has worked in collaboraonwith civil society, other INGOs, UNICEF and

government asa member ofvariousgroupsand coalions toachieve amore

favourable naonal child protecon environment. For example, the Naonal

TechnicalWorkingGrouponChildProteconputtogetherapaperforconside-raon at the naonal constuonal review conference in 2008. Civil society

organisaonshavealsoprovidedinputstothedraingofadequatechildprotec-

onlegislaonandlobbiedforitspassage.

In2008,PlansupportedtheHumanRightsConsultaveCommiee(HRCC),an

umbrellabodyforNGOs,toproduceanalternavereporttothesecondperiodic

reportontheConvenonontheRightsoftheChildpreparedbytheMalawian

government. The alternave report was presented to the Commiee on the

RightsoftheChildduringitsproceedingstoconsidertheStatereport.

Plancommissioned theconductofparcipatoryresearchtoexplorechildrens

experiencesofworkingonthetobaccoestates.Theresearchwaspresentedata

naonalconferenceonchildlabourin2009asameansofsmulangandcoor-

dinangaconbythemaingovernmentandnon-governmentactorstocombat

child labour.


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26 |CaseStudyMALAWI

Social & Community

ParliamentaryCommiee

ChildrensParliament

District

ChildAdvocacyGroup

Area

ChildAdvocacyGroup

Village

ChildAdvocacyGroup

Chilrns Prcipon strctrs in

Mlwis Chil Protcon Sstm (Pln ars)

NaonalSteeringCommiee

onGender&ChildDevelopment

NaonalTechnicalGroupon

ChildProtecon

DistrictChildProtecon

Commiee

AreaChildProtecon

Commiee

VillageChildProtecon

Commiee

NaonalNetworks

(childlabour,tracking,

streetchildren)

26 Fora framework formeasuring childrens parcipaon see: Lansdown,G. (2009). A Framework for MeasuringtheParcipaonofChildrenandAdolescents.UNICEFMENARegionalOce

How th orgnisonl strctrs for chil protcon t togthr

The diagram below and the accompanying table shows how the childrens groups

andchildproteconcommieessupportedbyPlananditspartnersrelatetothe

districtandnaonalbodiesthatareresponsibleforchildprotecon.

See appnix 1. - foranexplanaonofeachactorshowninthediagram.

5.3. Projct chivmnts n chllngs

Incrs opportnis for chilrns prcipon

Theprojecthasfacilitatedthecreaonofchildrensgroupsandincreasedoppor -

tuniesforchildrentoparcipateatthevillage,area,districtandnaonallevels.

Further study of these groups would be of great interest. This could be used to

clarifythenumbersofchildrenacvelyinvolved,howthegroupsfuncon,the

relaonshipsbetweenthegroupsatdierentlevels,andtheimpactofchildrens

parcipaonondecision-making26.


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CaseStudyMALAWI |27

Fromtheconsultaonsconductedduringtheevaluaonandthecasestudyvisit,

therewasanecdotalevidencetosuggestthatchildrensparcipaonhadhada

posiveimpact.

Childrenwerereportedandwereobservedtobemorearculate,condentand

pro-acvethanatthemeofthebaselinestudyin2006.Forexample,onegroup

ofchildrenacvelyseekshelpfromtheirlocalVillageSupportUnits(VSUs).As

theoneofpolicementoldus:thechildrencomeandtalktousandaskusto

visittheircommuniestodiscusstheirproblems.Villagechildadvocacygroups

inthreecommuniesinKasunguhavebeenabletofacilitatethereporngof

severalcasestopolice,someoftheminvolvingissuesofwitchcra.

In Kasungu there appeared to be a growing acceptance of the importanceof childrensparcipaonbycommunies and the authories.Asone of the

DistrictChildLabourOcerssaid: Childrensparcipaonisnowagiveninall

ourprojectsandacvies.Thereisalsoagrowingrealisaonbythepartnersin

theprojectthatwhenchildrenexpresstheirviews,thoseviewsneedtobegiven

due weight in the decision-making process.

Chllngs to chilrns prcipon

There are, however, many challenges to progress. NGO workers feel that, in

ordertogainadultsacceptanceofchildrensrighttoparcipate,itisnecessarytoemphasisechildrensresponsibiliesaswell astheirrights.Forculturaland

economic reasons, adults fear that children will become too demanding. Some

childrenarediscouragedbyparentsandotherchildrentobecomeinvolvedin

childproteconacvies.

Thereareformsofabuseofwhichchildrenareaware,butwhicharedicultto

discuss,suchaschildrenbeingtaughtwitchcra,andtheabuseofchildrenby

relaves.Onechildtoldus:Abusebyrelavescannotberevealed,otherwisethe

childwillbedrivenoutofthehouse.

Eortsaremadetoincludechildrenfrommarginalisedgroups,suchasthosewith

disabiliesandworkingchildren.Althoughthisischallenging,thereareinstances

of children from these groups holding leadership roles. Many groups of vul-

nerablechildren,suchasthoseworkingonthetobaccoestates,donothavethe

meorthebasicresources(food,soap,clothing)toaendcommunitygroups,

andmanyliveawayfromtheirhomesandcommunies.Thereisatendencyfor

the community to discriminate against these children.

Naonally,itisonlythedistrictsinwhichPlanisworkingthathaveasystemac

process for selecng members of the Childrens Parliament. There are also

problemsinensuringthattheresoluonsoftheChildrensParliamentaregiven


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28 |CaseStudyMALAWI

dueweightbythegovernment.Althoughaparliamentarycommieehasbeen

assigned to take responsibility to follow up the resoluons of the Childrens

Parliamentandensurethattheyareactedupon,theirmandateandmethodof

working is not yet clear.

Th otcoms of commnit bs rsponss

Consultaonswithchildrenandcommuniesaspartoftheevaluaonrevealed

someconsistentlyreportedposivechangesresulngfromtheworkofthecom -

munitycommieesandvolunteers.Itwasnotedthatparentsarepayingmore

aenontotheirchildrenswelfareandhygiene,andweremorelikelytosend

themtoschool.Itwasalsofeltthattherehadbeenareduconinchildmarriages

andinchildabuseinthecommunies,parcularlyviolentsexabusecases.

Respondentsthoughtthatfewerparentsweresubjecngtheirchildrentoharm -

fultradionalpracces that keepthemoutofschool, suchasconninga girl

duringherrstmenstruaonevenduringschoolhours.Inaddion,sometradi-

onalpracceshadbeenmodiedtoeliminatetheirharmfuleectsonchildren.

Therewasincreasedreporngofchildabusecases,andinafewcasestherehave

beensomesuccessfulprosecuons.Forexample,twocasesofdelementwere

reportedfromNkandaTradionalAuthorityofMulanje.Theculpritsweresen -

tencedtotenyearsimprisonmentwithhardlabour.Thereporngandprosecu

Trnsforming trionl prccs in th bst intrsts of chilrn

Thetradionof maskeddancerswhofrightenchildrenawayfrom schoolhasnow

beentransformed in somecommunies into aneventthatencourageschildren toaendschool.Themasksarenolongerfrightening,andthedancersaccompanychil-

dren to school.

On of th topics iscss t th 6th Mlwi Chilrns Prlimnt in 2007...

...wastheorganisaonoftheChildrensParliament.Whilstacknowledgingthemanysuc -

cessesoftheChildrensParliament,severalconcernswerenoted.Theseincludedthelack

ofaneecvedemocraceleconsystematthedistrict,regionalandnaonallevels.The

formaonbyPlananditspartnersofthechildrensgroupsatthecommunity,areaanddis-

trictlevelsrespondsdirectlytothisconcern,butthesestructuresandprocessesarelacking

indistrictswherePlanisnotpresent.


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CaseStudyMALAWI |29

onofcaseshasmadepeoplemoreawareoftheissue,andciviceducatorsfelt

thatpossibleperpetratorsarenowafraidoftheconsequencesoftheiracons.

Thecommieesplayan importantroleinfacilitangchildrensadvocacygroups

andprovidingsupporttochildren.Theconclusionoftheparcipatoryresearch

onchildworkersinthetobaccoindustrywasthatthepara-civiceducatorsrepre -

sentanimportantresourceforvulnerablechildren.Theresearcherobservedhow

an informal group of child workers, many of whom were orphans, had formed

aroundoneofthepara-civiceducatorswhoprovidedkindnessandsupport,and

thoughtthattherewaspotenalfortheformaonofpeergroupsofchildworkers

undertheguidanceofpara-civiceducators 27.

Theworkofpara-civiceducatorsandchildproteconcommieesisappreciatedbymanycommunitymembers.Onecommieetoldusthatpeoplecome,notjust

from within their own community, but from a distance to discuss problems. The

parenngclassesareparcularlypopularbecausetheyhelpparentsunderstand

howtheycanbehavedierentlytowardstheirchildren.

Volunteersfeelthattheinclusionoftradionalleadersasmembersofthecom-

mieeandaspara-civiceducatorshasincreasedcommunityrecognionoftheir

work.Asthegroupofpara-civiceducatorsinKasungutoldus:Thepara-civicedu-

catorswhoarevillageheadmenlendauthoritytoourwork.Itreinforceswhat

wedo.Itisimportantforpeopletohearthevillageheadmenspeakingthesamelanguage as us.

Th sstinbilit n rch of commnit bs rsponss

Thecommunityresponsetochildproteconhasbeenpromotedbythevolun-

teerismof civiceducators and commieemembers,whichhas addedto the

senseof communityownership.Someofthecommunitychildproteconcom-

mieeshavebeeninexistenceforseveralyearswithminimalmaterialsupport.

Asmembershavedroppedout,newoneshavetakentheirplace.

However,sustainabilityischallenging.Therehasbeenadropoutrateofaround

onethirdofthepara-civiceducatorswhohavebeentrainedinKasungusince

2003.Similarly,aroundonethirdoftheCommunityChildProteconCommiees

trainedinPlansworkingareainKasunguhavebecomeinacve.Thosewhocon-

nuetoworkdosointhefaceofsubstanaldicules,oneofthemostcrical

beingthelackofresourcestopursuetheirwork(suchasmeansoftransportand

communicaon)andtoprovidesupporttochildrenwhoneedit.

27 Clacherty,G.(2008).Hardwork,longhoursandlilepay.Parcipatoryresearchwithchildrenworkingon tobaccofarmsinMalawi.Plan


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30 |CaseStudyMALAWI

Thechild protecon servicesprovided tocommuniesby theareapolice sta-

ons,healthclinicsandmagistratescourtsareverylimitedintermsofqualityand

reach.Whencasesarereported,prosecuonseldomtakesplaceduetopressure

on the child and their family to withdraw the case, or due to the mishandling of

thecasebytheauthories.

Thelackofprosecuonisde-movangforthevolunteers,andcanalsobedan-

gerous(perpetratorsarefreetoreturntothevillageandmaythreatenthem).

Onone occasion, the grandson ofone ofthe para-civic educatorswas physi-

callyassaultedwhenshetriedtohelpawomanwhowasthevicmofdomesc

violence.Despitethis,sheandthecommieeinhercommunityaresllacve.

Askedwhatkeptthemgoing,theyreplied:Itisourownchildrenwearetryingto

protect.Wewanttotrytohelpdeveloptheareafortheirfuture.

Plananditspartnershaveplayedalargeroleinprovidingencouragementand

technicalsupporttocommieesandinlinkingthemwithareaanddistrictser-

vices.UlmatelythisshouldbetheresponsibilityoftheDistrictSocialWelfare

Oces,buttheylackthehumanandnancialresources.

Thenumberofcommuniesthatreceivesupportonchildproteconissllvery

smallandheavilydependentonNGOs.InKasungu,communitycommieesand

childrensgroupshavebeenestablishedandtrainedinonly13outof30areas

withinthedistrict.Planiniatedtheacvityintheveareasinwhichitworks.Itwasthenscaledupinanaddionaleightareasthroughajointprojectwiththe

DistrictChildProteconCommiee.

Improvmnts to th istrict rspons to violnc ginst chilrn

Therehasbeenamarkedincreaseinthecollaboraonbetweenthedierent

governmentandcivilsocietychildproteconactorsinthedistrictsinwhichPlan

works, parcularly inKasungu and Lilongwe. Prevenve and responsivechild

proteconacviesarenowjointlyplannedandimplemented,therebymaxi-

misingtheuseofresources,andcontribungtocapacitybuilding.TheKasungu

andLilongweDistrictChildProteconCommieesactasmodelsofsuccessand

receivevisitsfromrepresentavesofotherdistricts.

Ajointprojecttoscaleupcommunitychildproteconcommieesandchildrens

groupsinKasunguwasimplementedthroughamethodofnancialsupportto

localgovernmentthatwasnewforPlanMalawi.Planprovidedafundthatwas

managedbyeachcommieetoextendtheformaonandsupportofchildpro -

teconcommieestotheaddionaleightareas.Thisgeneratedasenseofcom-

mieeownershipandachievement.


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CaseStudyMALAWI |31

Childproteconisbeinggivengreaterpriorityatthedistrictlevel.Asaresult

of increased community awareness, some areas are now including child protec-

onconcernsinthedevelopmentplanstheysubmittotheDistrict.Thismakes

iteasierfortheDistrictSocialWelfareOcertolobbyfortheinclusionofchild

proteconacviesindistrictdevelopmentplansandbudgets.

Th icls fc b th district Socil Wlfr Ocs

Despitetheadvancesmade,socialworkhasalowpriorityinthedistrictsdueto

thelackofrecognionoftheimportanceofsocialissues,andtotherelavely

weakandunder-fundedposionoftheDistrictSocialWorkOces.

Districtchildproteconbodieslacksucientfundstomonitorthesituaonofchildrenwithinthedistrict,tosuperviseandsupportcommunitycommieesand

volunteers,andtoassistthechildrenthatcometothemforhelp.Inaddion,

thereisnouniformsystemforreporngandmonitoringtheoutcomeofchild

proteconcases,makingitdiculttofollowtrends.

Therearediculesprosecungtheperpetratorsofviolenceagainstchildren.

Thereareseveralreasonsforthis.Casesareoenmishandledbythepoliceand

judiciary.Casesmayalsobewithdrawnwhentheytaketoolongorwhenthe

childisdependentontheperpetrator.Asdescribedabove,thisisdemoralising

forcommuniesandcanposethreatstothesafetyofboththechildandthoseinvolvedinreporngthecases.

Atthedistrict,areaandcommunitylevels,childproteconcoordinangbodies

areanchored inMalawisdecentralisedsystemoflocalgovernment.However,

Malawiissllinastateoftransiontothedecentralisedsystem,whichisnot

yetfullyfunconal.Theexistenceanddegreeoffunconalityofthesestructures

variesbetweendistrictsandlocaliesanddependsonthesupportofNGOs.

Stps forwr in improving th nonl chil protcon sstm

Plan,togetherwithotheractors,hascontributedtoprogressinmanycompo-

nentsofMalawisnaonalchildproteconsystem.Forexample,someofthe

Naonal TechnicalWorkingGroup on ChildProtecons recommendaons to

theconstuonalreviewwereagreedandwillbereectedinthenewlydraed

constuon.Theseincludetheharmonizaonoftheageofthechildwiththe

provisionsoftheConvenonontheRightsoftheChild.

Followingimprovementstothepreviouspolicaldeadlockinparliament,there

isnowmovementonsomeofthechildfocusedlegislaontowhichcivilsociety


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32 |CaseStudyMALAWI

hascontributed. TheNaonalRegistraonBill,whichmakesbirth registraon

compulsory,wasnallypassedbytheNaonalAssemblyinNovember2009.The

vericaonofchildrensagesfacilitatestheprosecuonofchildabusecases.The

ChildCare,ProteconandJusceBillthatprovidesgreaterproteconforchildren

was passed in June, 2010.

TheproduconofashadowreportontheCRCbytheHumanRightsConsulta-

veCommieeprovidedvaluableaddionalinformaontotheCommieeon

the CRC; this informaonwas included in its ConcludingObservaonstothe

MalawianGovernment.TheseConcludingObservaonswillformthebasisfor

futureadvocacytogovernmentonchildprotecon.

Theparcipatorychildlabourresearch 28andthenaonalconferenceonchildlabourresultedinthereconveningoftheNaonalTechnicalWorkingGroupon

ChildLabourandtheapprovalofanaonalpolicyonchildlabour.TheNaonal

LabourOcealsoproducedanaonalreporngframeworkonchildlabour.

a nonl nvironmnt tht rmins vr chllnging

Despitethesesteps forward, thenaonalenvironment forchildproteconre-

mains challenging.Although,asmenonedabove, there have been improve-

mentsinlegislaon,therearemanypolicyandoperaonalproblems.

a goo xmpl of coorint nonl ort on chil protcon

InresponsetotheUNVACstudy,in2007,theNaonalTechnicalWorkingGroupon

ChildProteconiniatedamul-yearStopChildAbuseCampaign.Thiscampaignwas

implementedeveryyearforthreeyears.TheaimoftheCampaignwastobreakthe

silenceonchildabuseandtoprovideopportuniesforopendiscussionsonissues

suchaschildlabour,sexualabuse,childtracking,earlymarriagesandotherharmfulculturalpracces.TheStopChildAbusecampaignhastargetedpolicymakers,service

providersand thegeneralpublicthroughradioandtelevisionmessages,billboards,

leaets,factsheets,postersandhandbooks.Theresultsofthiscampaignarecurrently

being compiled.

28 Clacherty,G.(2008).Hardwork,longhoursandlilepay.Parcipatoryresearchwithchildrenworkingon tobaccofarmsinMalawi.Plan


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CaseStudyMALAWI |33

29 VicmSupportUnitsarelocatedwithinpolicestaonsandprovidesupporttowomenandchildrenwho

arevicmsofviolence.Thestaaretrainedtodealwithchildreninanappropriate,childfriendlymanner

andoercounsellingandmediaonservicesandfacilitatereferraltootherservices.Recentlytheyre- ceivedtraininginplaytherapy.

CoordinaonisimpededbytheoverlappingmandatesofthemanyMinistriesthat

haveresponsibilityforchildwelfare.Forexample,thereareseparateMinistries

for ChildrenwithDisabiliesandforYouth,aswellastheusualministriesof

health,educaon,homeaairs,jusce,andlabour.Thismeansthattherearedif-

culesinachievingcoordinaonanddevelopingauniedapproachtochildrens

issues.Thislackofcoordinaonmakesthedevelopmentofacomprehensivechild

proteconpolicyoranaonalplanofacondicult,andtheabsenceofaunify -

ingagendafurtherimpedescoordinaon.

TheNaonalTechnicalWorkingGroupwasveryacvebetween2005and2007

whileUNICEFprovideddirectnancialsupporttothemeengs.Sincethiswas

withdrawn,thenumberofmeengsandaendancerateshavediminished.The

momentumthatwasgainedincoordinaonandgainingconsensusontheshapeofthenaonalchildproteconsystemhasbeenlost.TheMinistryofGender,

Children and Community Development has diculty in taking the lead, and

governmentdepartmentsandNGOsarenotworkingeecvelytogether,result -

inginaninecientuseofresources.

Services torespondtocasesofviolenceagainst childrenarepresentin some

areas,buttheyarelargelyreacve,andcoverageandqualityis limited.Newly

introducedchildproteconservicemodelsalsolack scale.Forexample,there

areChildrensCourtsonlyin4districts,theOmbudsmanisonlyphysicallyre-

presentedin3districts,andthereareonly34vicmsupportunits(VSUs)29

inpolicestaonsnaonwide.

Dierent ministries, such as the

Naonal LabourOce have their

own data management systems

and there is no comprehensive,

unifyingnaonaldatabaseonchild

protecon,whichmakesitdicult

to track trends and outcomes.

Although ministry funding for child

protecon has declined recently,

there are dicules in absorbing

and spending available resources

due to a lack of human resources

andproblemsofpolicalwill.

PolicestainaVSUinKasungudistrictpolice

staonfromtheKalulumaarea


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34 |CaseStudyMALAWI

Componnt

Nonl chil

protcon

lgislon, polic

n progrmms

Coorinon

within th chil

protcon sstm

n with othr

sctors

Chilrns

prcipon

Pblic wrnss

n spport

ecv chil

protcon

srvics

ecv qlit

stnrs

Knowlg nt gnron

n mngmnt

Finncil n

hmn rsorcs

Stts

RecentpassageoflegislaoninlinewiththeCRC,suchastheRegistraonAct,but

manyaspectsoflegislaonsllnotinlinewiththeCRC.

Recentadoponofanaonalchildlabourpolicy,butalackofunifyingnaonalpoliciesand

strategicplansforotheraspectsofchildprotecon.

MinistryofGendertakestheleadonchildprotecon,butresponsibilityforchildrenis

spreadovermanyministrieswithoverlappingmandates,makingcoordinaondicult.

FunconingmuldisciplinaryNaonalTechnicalWorkingGrouponChildProtecon,

coordinatesnaonallevelchildproteconwork,butthelevelofitsacvityhasdeclined

overthelast3years.

Inadequatemainstreamingofchildproteconbylineministries.

Jointacviesimplemented,suchastheStopChildAbuseCampaign.

MuldisciplinaryDistrictChildProteconCommieesfunconalinsomedistricts,butthis

variesanddependsonNGOsupport.

Insucientsupportfromthenaonaltothedistrictlevel.

Verylimitedsupportfromthedistrictchildproteconservicestocommunitychildprotec

onresponses.

ChildrensparcipaoniniavesimplementedbyNGOs,butthereisalackofopportunity

forchildrentoarculatetheirissuesinmanydistricts.

FunconingNaonalChildrensParliament,whichiswellrespected.

Inmanydistrictsthereisnoclearprocessfortheseleconandpreparaonofdelegatesto

theChildrensParliament.

Lilefollowupoftheissuesthatthechildrenraise.

Progresshasbeenmadeingenerangpublicsupportforchildproteconthroughthe

celebraonofanniversarydays,mediacampaigns,suchastheStopChildAbuseCampaign,

andradioprogrammessuchasPlansTimveniproject.

Theatudeofthepublictowardschildrensrightsissllverychallenging.NGOworkers

feelthatitisnecessarytoincludetheconceptofchildrensresponsibilies,aswellastheir

rights, to gain cultural acceptance.

Newchildproteconservicesbeingdevelopedandpiloted,suchChildCourtsin4districts.

Limitedcoverageandqualityofchildproteconservices.

There are some standards and guidelines in place.

Limitedsupportandsupervisionfromnaonaltodistrictanddistricttoarea.

Anaonalchildprotecondatabaseislacking. Dierentministries,suchastheNaonalLabourOce,havetheirowndatamanagement

systems.

Lackofcoordinaonofdatagatheringatthedistrictlevel.

Ministryfundingforchildproteconhasdeclinedrecently.

Theministryhasdicultyinabsorbingandspendingresources.

Thereisarealshortageofresourcesatdistrictlevel.

Boththeministryandthedistrictsoperatemainlyonprojectfunding,whichmakesit

diculttobuildcoherentservices.

Communieshavenotbeenabletomobiliseadequateresourcesfortheirownchild

proteconacvies.

Lackofskilledhumanresourcesatalllevels.

Socialworkerstrainedtoalowerlevelthanpeersinotherministrieswhichmakesitdicult forthemgetpriorityforchildprotecon.

Tking th tmprtr - progrss towrs nonl chil protcon

sstm in Mlwi

ThetablesummarisesthesituaoninMalawiinrelaontotheessenalcom-ponentsofanaonalchildproteconsystem.Thesummarywasdrawnmainlyfromthe resultsofa one-dayworkshop with sta fromPlan and its partner

organisaons..


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CaseStudyMALAWI |35

6. Lssons Lrnt n Bst Prccs

6.1. Prsrving th bst intrsts of th chil

TheCRC spulates that thebest interestsofthe childshouldbetheprimary

consideraoninallaconsconcerningthechild.Determiningwhatisinthebest

interestsofthechildinrelaontoviolaonsoftheirrighttoproteconisfre-

quently challenging, parcularly invery resourcepoor environments suchas

Malawi,wherethelackofresourceslimitstheoponsthatareavailable.

Theconsequencesofreporngcasesofabusetotheauthoriesmaybedeeply

traumasingtothechildandtohisorherfamily.Ifthefamilyisdependentfor

theirlivelihoodontheperpetrator,conviconandincarceraonputsthewhole

family at risk. If cases are reported but the perpetrator is released, he may seekrevengeandthreatenthechildandthosewhohavehelpedhimorher.Thechild

maybere-vicmisedorsubjecttosoluonsagreedbythefamiliesandtradi -

onalauthoriesthatareprejudicial,suchasmarriagetoadeler.

DuetotheDistrictAuthorieslackofresources,childrenwhoarewithdrawnfrom

childlabourhavebeenlewithoutsupportandwithoutthemeansofreturning

home.Thisclearlyleavesthemopentofurtherexploitaon.

Thecurrentlackofauniformreporngsystemmakesthemonitoringofreported

casesandthetrackingofoutcomesdicult.Itistheresponsibilityofallorgani -

saonsworkingonchildprotecontoensurethattheiraconsdonotresultin

childrenbeingplacedinaworsesituaonaerreporngtheircasesthanbefore.

Forexample,theKasunguDistrictSocialWelfareOceislookingatalternaves

totheincarceraonofperpetratorswhohavedependentfamilies,suchassome

formofcommunityservice.Thecurrentlawallowsforthisprovisionbutthereare

diculesinmonitoringandenforcingcompliance.

Praccalstepsaimedatpreservingthebestinterestsofthechildarelistedin

secon7.1.

6.2. Chilrns Prcipon

TheexperienceinMalawidemonstratesthatprogressonchildrensparcipaon

canbeachievedineventhemostdicultandunpromisingculturalsituaons,but

thatitisalearningprocessforbothchildrenandadultsthatrequiressustained

eortoveraperiodofme.Someparcularinsightsinrelaontochildrens

parcipaonthatemergedfromtheprojectarediscussedintheseconsbelow.


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36 |CaseStudyMALAWI

Qlit prciptor rsrch with n b chilrn to inform rsponss

to violnc ginst chilrn

Parcipatoryresearchwithchildrenisanessenaltoolforunderstandingchildrens

experiencesandperspecves.Itfrequentlychallengestheassumponsmadeby

adultsabouthowchildrenthinkandperceivetheirsituaon.Forexample,there -

searchconductedbyPlanwithagroupofchildworkersfromthetobaccoestates

demonstratedthat themajorityofchildrenwereworkingoftheirownaccord,

becausetheywantedtocontributetothesurvivaloftheirverypoorfamiliesand

topayfortheirowneducaon 30.

Theclearimplicaonsoftheresearchwasthat,whilefamiliesinMalawiremain

extremelypoor,waysshouldbefoundthatenablechildrentoconnueworkinginimprovedcondions,whilstbeingabletogotoschool.Thiswouldnecessitate

thedevelopmentofexibleformsofschoolingthatcanaccommodateworking

children.

Th prcipon of mrginlis grops

Theparcipaonofmarginalisedgroupsischallenging,parcularlyin thevery

poorcircumstancesofMalawianvillages.Nevertheless, theawarenessof chil-

drenandadultstothesituaonandrightsofthesegroupsneedstoberaised,and

mechanisms found to promote their inclusion.

Childrenwithdisabiliescanbeencouragedtojoincommunity-basedgroups.

Othergroups,suchaschildrenworkingonthetobaccoestates,whoareoen

livingawayfromhome,maybenetfromtheirowngroupsformutualsupport

andtopresentaunitedvoicetotheiremployers.

Chilrns prcipon s th bckbon of forml n non-forml

chil protcon sstms

Planhasstriventoopenspacesforchildrensparcipaonthroughtheformaon

ofchildrensgroupsandthefacilitaonofchildrensparcipaonatvillage,area

anddistrictlevels.Thishasenabledchildrenfrompoorruralandurbancommu-

niestohaveadialoguewithserviceprovidersandpolicymakersatalllevels,

leadingtogreateracknowledgementoftheirrighttoparcipateandthevalueof

theirparcipaon,aswellassomeprogresstowardstheinstuonalisaonof

childrensparcipaonthroughtheirparcipaoninVillageDevelopmentCom-

miees.

30 ExploitaonofchildrenfortheirlabourisregardedbytheCRCasaproteconissueandbytheUNStudy

onViolenceAgainstChildrenasoneformofviolence.PlanhasbeenencouragingtheDistrictChildLabour

andChildProteconCommieestoworkinclosecollaboraon.InKasunguandLilongweDistrictstheyact as one body.


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CaseStudyMALAWI |37

Theformaonofchildrensgroupshasalsoallowedchildrenfromthedistrictsin

whichPlanworkstoberepresentedinamoreauthencmannerintheNaonal

ChildrensParliament,andgivenopportuniesforelectedchilddelegatestogain

condenceandexperienceastheyprogressthrougheachlevel.

ensring tht chilrns viws r givn wight in cision-mking

Onceopportunieshavebeenopenedforchildrentoparcipate,thereisthe

needtoensuretheirviewsaretakenintoconsideraonandinformdecision-

making.Forexample,whenagirlaskedforthechildproteconprojecttobe

extendedtoherareaduringadistrictassemblyinKasungu,PlanandtheDistrict

ChildProteconCommieefeltthattheyneededtotakethisrequestseriously.

ThisledtothescalingupoftheCommunityChildProteconCommieesandChildrensAdvocacyGroupsbytheDistrictChildProteconCommieetoanad-

dionaleightareasinthedistrict.

TheChildrensParliamentisaniniavethatiswellregarded,buttherearedif-

culesinensuringthattheviewsexpressedbythechildrenareconsideredand

acteduponbythegovernment.TheSocialandCommunityParliamentaryAairs

Commieehasbeengiventhetaskoffollowingupontherecommendaonsof

theChildrensParliament,buthowitshouldgoaboutthisinpracceisnotyet

clear.

6.3. Commnit chil protcon rsponss

Promongnon-formal responses toviolenceagainstchildren that are in their

bestinterestsiscrical,parcularlyinresource-poorenvironmentswherepro -

gresstowardsqualityandcoveragebyformalchildproteconsystemsisslow.

Promong posiv, non-violnt bhviors

Childproteconworkhastendedto focusontheresponsetoviolenceagainst

children.Thebalanceneedstoberedressedtowardsprevenon,researchandaconontherootcausesofviolencetowardsbothgirlsandboys.Therearemany

aspectstotheprevenonofviolenceagainstchildren,oneofwhichisthepromo-

onofposiveatudesandbehaviourstowardschildren.

Themostpopularservicethattheciviceducatorsprovideistheparenngclasses.

Thesehelpparentstolistentotheirchildren,andgivethemideasaboutposive

methodsofdiscipline.Workingwithparentsandcommuniestodevelopposi -

vealternavestoauthoritarianandviolentwaysof raisingchildreniscrical;

withoutthis,adultsdonothavethetoolswithwhichtochangetheirbehaviour.


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38 |CaseStudyMALAWI

31 Wessels,M.(2009).Whatarewelearningaboutprotecngchildreninthecommunity?Aninteragency

reviewoftheevidenceoncommunitybasedchildproteconmechanismsinhumanitariananddevelop-

mentsengs.SavetheChildren.32

Wilfried Schrfetal.(Undated).Access to jusce forthe poorof Malawi?An appraisal ofaccess to

jusceprovidedtothepoorofMalawibythelowersubordinatecourtsandthecustomaryjusceforums.www.gsdrc.org/docs/open/SSAJ99.pdf

Eveninculturesinwhichcorporalpunishmentisanacceptednorm,welldesigned,

parcipatoryparenngclassescanleadtoresoluonsbyparentstoabandoncor-

poralpunishmentandtorequireschoolteacherstodothesame.

Biling commnit chil protcon rsponss on xisng prccs

n cpcis

Researchoncommunitychildproteconresponsesindicatesthattheyaremost

eecvewhentheybuildonexisngresourcesandcapacies,andinvolvecom-

munity leaders 31.Theprojectexperiencebearsthisout.Civiceducatorsfeltthat

trainingvillagechiefsasciviceducatorsincreasessupportfortheirworkwithin

thecommunity.Ontheotherhand,whenthevillageleadersfailtosupportthem,

theyarevulnerabletothreatsfromperpetrators.

Theinvolvementofvillagechiefsincommunitychildproteconresponsesalso

facilitatestheabandonmentofharmfultradionalpraccesortheirtransforma-

ontoformsthatpreservethebestinterestsofchildren.

InMalawi,thevastmajorityofdisputesaresllresolvedthroughaprimaryjus-

cesystempresidedoverbyvillagechiefs,usingcustomarylaw.Customarylaw

inMalawiisrestoraveandorientedtowardspreservingsocialharmony.Itthere-

foretendstopreservesocialnormsthatdiscriminateagainstthevulnerable,and

arefrequentlyprejudicialtowomenandchildren32

.

The DFID-fundedMalawi Security and Access to Juvenile Jusce programme

soughttodeveloptheprimaryjuscesysteminMalawitoincludeabroaderrange

ofactors, including CBOs,NGOs, faith basedorganisaons and service provi-

ders,andthusimproveitsresponsivenessandaccountabilitytowardsvulnerable

groups.Therelaonshipbetweencommunitybasedchildproteconresponses

andtheexisngprimaryjuscesystemsisclearlyacricalone,andfurtherwork

needs to be done to clarify it.

Importnc of volntrism n qt spport to volntrs

TheimportanceofvoluntarismbythemembersoftheChildProteconCommit-

teesisillustratedbythediculesexperiencedinthedistrictofMulanjewhere


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CaseStudyMALAWI |39

anumberofNGOswereprovidingnancialincenvestovolunteers.Thisunder-

minedthesenseofcommunityownershipofdevelopmentacviesandledto

diculesinsustainingthecommunityresponse.

Intheotherdistrictsinwhichtheprojectwasimplemented,therewasasubstan -

aldropout,butmanyofthetrainedciviceducatorsandchildproteconcom -

mieeshaveremainedacveandcommiedoverseveralyears.Thisisdespite

manydiculesandchallenges,includingthreatstotheirpersonalsafetyanda

lack of means to do their work.

Theseexperiencesunderlinetheneedtodevelopclearpoliciesthatupholdthe

valueofvolunteerism,butmakeadequateprovisionforthetraining,supportand

securitythatvolunteersneedtofulltheirroles.

DuetotheDistrictSocialWelfareOceslackofresources, long-termsustain-

ablesoluonstosupporngtheworkofcommunityvolunteersarenoteasyto

develop,andwilldependoncivilsocietyforsomemetocome.Agenciesneedto

thinkcreavelyaboutthis.ThecoregroupofciviceducatorsinKasunguhasnow

beenworkingtogetherforseveralyears.Theyholdtheirownmonthlymeengs

todiscusstheirwork,andinviteresourcepeopletocometotalktothem.Plan

couldconsiderdevelopinggroupssuchastheseasCBOsthatcanhandletheir

ownfunds,andaresupportedtodevelopthecapacitytoaccessfundsfromother

sources.

Scrit for commnit n chilrns grops ngg with violnc

ginst chilrn

Addressingviolenceagainstchildrenchallengestaboosandpowerrelaonsbe -

tweenmen,women,andgirlsandboys.Perpetratorsoenusetheirpersonal

wealthandstatustobribeocialsandtradionalleaderstoavoidprosecuon,

andtheymayseekrevengeagainsttheirvicmsandthosewhohaveassisted

them.Thereis,therefore,arealneedtoconsiderthesecurity,notonlyofthevic-

msofviolence,butalsoofthemembersofthechildrensgroupsandtheadult

volunteerswhoworkontheissue.

Althoughthepoliceareincludedinthemul-disciplinarycoordinaonbodiesat

naonalanddistrictlevels,withincommuniestherehasoenbeencompe-

on rather thancollaboraonbetweencommunitypolicing andchildprotec-

onvolunteers.Communitypolicingvolunteersarenottrainedtodealwithchild

vicmsofviolenceandarethereforeoflimitedassistancetochildprotecon

volunteers.


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40 |CaseStudyMALAWI

Thereisaneedforgreatercollaboraonbetweenorganisaonsworkingonchild

proteconandthepoliceatalllevels,includingthecommunitylevel,withtraining

forthepoliceandpolicingvolunteers.Theinvolvementoftradionalauthories

asdiscussedpreviouslyisalsocrucial.

Oneofthedangersofgreaterinvolvementofthepoliceandtradionalleaders

inchildproteconmaybetheabuseoftheirauthority.Adequatetraining,and

balancingtheirinvolvementwiththatofchildren,communitymembersandcivil

societyorganisaons,shouldhelptoguardagainstthisrisk.

6.4. a ml-lvl pproch

achiving blnc btwn mpowring chilrn n commnis,

n spporng n vocng for th biling of forml chil protc-

on srvics

Malawiismakingprogress,thoughslowly,indevelopingthelegislaon,policies,

structuresandprocesses that are necessary toputaneecve naonalchild

proteconsysteminplace.Therearemanyimpedimentstoprogress,giventhe

social,economicandpolicalchallengesthatthecountryfaces.Formalchildpro -

teconservicesarecurrentlyonlyabletoreachafraconofthepopulaon.

Communitybasedapproachestochildproteconhavethepotenaltoempower childrenand communies to idenfy and address their own child protecon

issues. They can contribute to changing social norms, re-orientang peoples

behaviour and reducing violenceagainst children in amore immediate,cost-

eecveandculturallysensivemannerthanthelong-termeortofgenerang

systemic change.

However,asawarenessofchildproteconissuesisraised,peopleexpectand

demandthattheauthoriestakeappropriateacon.Thechildrenconcerned,

their families and community volunteers are deeply de-movated by the

authoriesinaconandthemishandlingofcaseswhichresultsinperpetratorsbeingfreed.Thesuccessfulprosecuonofjustonecasesendspowerfulsignals

thatsuchbehaviourisnottobetolerated.

Progressthereforeneedstobemadeonbothfronts,theeortslinkedandsup-

portedbymediacampaignsinordertotakeadvantageofsynergiesandmaximise

impact.

Th importnc of coorinon mchnisms

ThenaonalexperienceinMalawiillustratestheimportanceofeecvecoor-

dinaonmechanismsinthedevelopmentofeecvechildproteconsystems.


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CaseStudyMALAWI |41

Aspreviouslystated,between2005and2007, theNaonalTechnicalWorking

GrouponChildProteconwasveryacve,andmuchwasachievedintermsof

thedevelopmentofavisionforchildprotecon,andthecoordinaonofeort

betweengovernmentandnon-governmentorganisaons.However,asUNICEF

reduced its direct support tothe acviesof theNaonal TechnicalWorking

Group, frequency ofmeengs and aendancedwindled, and the Ministryof

Genderwasunabletollthevacuum.

By2010,therewasapalpablelossofleadershiponchildprotecon,andcivil

societyrepresentavesreportedthatdierentactorswereworkingindependently,

leadingtoduplicaonofeortandthedevelopmentofparallelstructures.

Future progress in building a coherent, holisc naonal child protecon sys-temdependsonconnuedeortstodevelopandsustaincoordinaonmecha -

nisms.CivilsocietyneedstodiscusswiththeMinistryofGenderhowthiscanbe

achieved.

Currentlycivilsocietyitselfalsolacksanaonalcoordinangbodyfororganisa -

onsworkingonchildrensrights.Thereisaconsensusthatthisvacuumneedsto

belledinordertouniteeortsandstrengthentheircollecvevoice.

Coordinaonmechanismsareequallyimportantatthedistrictlevel.Wherethe

District Child ProteconCommiees are funconingwell, advances are beingmadeinraisingtheproleofchildproteconanddevelopingdistrictlevelchild

proteconservices.

n joint plnning n implmnton

IntheMalawiancontext,governmentiscurrentlyunabletomeet itsresponsi-

biliestofullchildrensrighttoprotecon.The intervenonofcivilsocietyis

necessary toworkwith children andcommunies toempowerthem to iden-

fyandaddresstheirownchildproteconissues,andtolobbygovernmentfor

thesupportandservicesthattheyneed.Civilsocietyalsohasaroletoplayin

developingmodelsofgoodpracceandstrengtheninggovernmenttomeettheir

obligaons.

Experience inMalawi indicates that thebuildingof coherent child protecon

systems isbestachievedthrough joint planningand implementaon between

civilsocietyandlocalandnaonalgovernment.Thispromotescoordinaonand

collaboraon andhelps to raise thecapacity ofgovernment staanddepart-

ments.Itbuildstheirsenseofaccountabilityfortheirresponsibilies,ratherthan

bypassingandalienangthem.


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42 |CaseStudyMALAWI

7. Conclsions n Rcommnons

TheexperienceofPlanMalawionworkingtocombatviolenceagainstchildren

throughitsmul-levelapproachhasbeenrichinlearning.Ithasworkedonthisissueinasustainedmannerforovereightyearsandhastakenstepstoreviewits

performanceandtheoutcomesofitseorts.

TheseconclusionsandrecommendaonsaredrawnfromthePlanMalawiexperi-

ence,andarebasedonthendingsoftheliteraturereview,theprojectevalua-

on,andtheprojectvisit andworkshop. They are largelyorientated towards

Plan,itsmanagementandprogrammesta,butareofrelevancetocivilsociety

actorsinMalawiandinothercountries.Theyarealsoofrelevancetothewider

childproteconmovement,whichisstrivingtoestablishasecureevidencebase

on which strategies and ways of working can be grounded.

7.1. Strngthn chil cntr pprochs

TheexperienceofPlananditspartnersinMalawiindicatesthevalueof,andthe

needfor,achildcentredapproachtochildproteconprogrammingatalllevels.

Achildcentredapproachmeanspunginplacepraccalmechanismstoensure

that what is done is in the best interests of girls and boys. It also means that chil-

drensrighttobeheardisrespectedandthattheirviewsaregivendueweight

inchildproteconiniavesatalllevels,andthattheseiniavesareinclusive

ofallchildrenandworktoreducethesgmathatchildrenaectedbyviolence

oenface.

Child centred approaches requiresupportover aperiodofyears toallow the

profoundchangesthatarenecessaryinatudesandbehaviourtowardschildren

tobeadoptedandsustained.Praccalstepstowardsa childcentredapproach

include:

Qualityparcipatoryresearchwithchildrentoinformpolicyandpracce.

Establishingresponsestothesituaonofchildrenthatarebasedontheir

lifecircumstancesandrealies.

Childrensparcipaonas akey componentof formal andnon-formal childproteconsystems,withparcipatorystructuresinstuonalisedat

alllevels.

Promongtheparcipaonofmarginalisedgroupsofchildren.

Addressingthegenderdimensionofviolenceagainstchildren.

Ensuring that childrensviewsaregivendueweight andactedupon in

decision-making.

Workingonprevenonandpromongposivechangesinatudesand

behaviourtowardschildren.

Promongthetransformaonoftradionalmethodsofconictresolu-

onsothatthedecisionsmadeareinthebestinterestsofchildren.


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CaseStudyMALAWI |43

Training service providers and establishing child friendly formal child

proteconprocedures. Developingcommunity-basedpsychosocialsupportforchildrenwhohave

experiencedviolence.

Monitoringthe outcomesofreported casesand usingthe informaon

gainedtoimproveformalandnon-formalprocessesforresolvingcasesof

violenceagainstchildren.

7.2. Spport n scrit for commnit-own chil protcon

rsponss

Communitybasedresponsesareessenalfortheprevenonofviolenceagainstchildren,andasameansofre-orientangadultatudesandbehaviourstore -

spect the dignity, worth and personal integrity of children. Community ownership

andbuildingresponsesonexisngposivepraccesisnecessaryforsustained

eortbycommunitygroups.

Tofunconadequately,thesegroupsneedsucientsupportfromformalchild

proteconservices(orcivilsocietyinitsabsence).Inviewofthesensivenature

ofchildproteconandthewaythatitchallengessocialnormsandpowerstruc-

tures,aenonalsoneedstobepaidtothesecurityofadultandchildrensgroups

againstperpetratorswhomayseekrevenge.

AnalysisofthechildproteconworkofPlanMalawisuggeststhatthefollowing

aconsarenecessarytobuildsafe,secureandsustainedcommunityownedchild

proteconresponses.

Promongposivebehaviourstochildrenthroughsuchmeansasparen-

ngclasses.

Involvingtradionalleadersinchildprotecontrainingandcommunity

groups.

Re-orientangharmfultradionalpraccestobesupporveofchildren.

Promong thetransformaonofprimaryjuscesystemstomakedeci-sions in the best interests of children.

Establishingclearvolunteerpolicies,butsupporngvolunteergroupsto

managetheirownfundsandtoaccessresourcesfromdiversesources.

Buildingthecapacityoflocalformalchildproteconsystemstoprovide

support to volunteers in the handling and mediaon of cases and/or

strengtheningcivilsocietycapacitytoprovidesupport.

Workingincollaboraonwiththelocalandcommunitypolice,andtradi-

onalandcommunityleaderstosecurethesafetyofvolunteers.

Supportimprovements in theformal childproteconsystemtoensure

that reported cases are handled appropriately.


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44 |CaseStudyMALAWI

7.3. Spport to forml chil protcon sstms

Whiletheexpansionofsustainablecommunitybasedchildproteconresponses

isessenaltobuildinglocalenvironmentsinwhichfamiliescanraisetheirchil -

drenwithlove,care,andwiththesupportoftheirneighboursandcommunity

leaders,thisneedstobebalancedbythedevelopmentofformalchildprotecon

systems.Thesearenecessarytosupportcommunityeortsandtoensureanade-

quateresponseto thecasesthatarereportedasaresultofraisedcommunity

awareness.

Thetable, TakingtheTemperatureattheendofSecon5.4. summarisesthe

statusofchildproteconsystemsinMalawi,theprogressthathasbeenmade

andthegapsthatexist.Fillingthosegapswillrequiresustainedeortoverthelong term.

TheexperienceofMalawipointsinparculartothevalueandnecessityofmul-

disciplinarycoordinaonbodiesatnaonalanddistrictlevels.Whenandwhere

theseareworkingwell,thesectorhasbeenrejuvenatedandtherehasbeenin-

creasedmovaonandcollaboraveworkingtogoodeect.Whenthesecoor-

dinangbodiesbecomelessacve,thebiggerpictureislostandorganisaons

begintoworkalonewithalossofsynergyandoverallimpact.

ThiscasestudypointstothefollowingmeansbywhichINGOscansupportthedevelopmentofchildproteconsystems.

Supporngcivilsocietytolobbyforlegislaon,policiesandprogrammes

thatareinaccordancewiththeCRCandotherinternaonalinstruments.

Facilitangmeaningfulchildparcipaoninchildproteconsystems.

Supporngcivilsocietytomonitorandreportonviolenceagainstchildren.

Supportcoordinaonbygovernmentandcivilsocietyatalllevels.

Supportto jointplanning andimplementaonby governmentandcivil

society.

Leveragingincreasedpolicalwill,andincreasedresourcesfromgovern

mentanddonors,byhighlighngtheextentandnatureoftheissuesthat

children face.

Supporngcampaignsofpublicawarenessonviolenceagainstchildren.

Supporttothedevelopmentofcoherent dataand knowledgemanage

ment systems.

Supporttohumanresourcedevelopment.


45/49

CaseStudyMALAWI |45

7.4. Strngthning th rol of locl n nonl civil socit

PlanisunusualasanINGOtohaveapresenceclosetocommuniesaswellas

atdistrictandatnaonallevels.Thishasallowedittoadoptalinkedmul-level

approachtov

malawi case study plan sweden

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