UNICEF Child ProtectionInternational Initiatives Aimed at Supporting National and Local Level Violence

Prevention

Theresa, Child Section NYHQ

Theresa KilbaneSenior Child Protection Advisor

United Nations Children’s Fund, NYHQ

07 September, 2011

Evolution of the Sector

Child Protection Strategy 2008

(1)Strengthening child protection systems

(2)Promoting positive social norms

(3) Child protection in emergencies

Cross cutting: evidence building and knowledge management and convening and catalyzing agents of change

Strategic Context

• Protection of children from violence, exploitation and abuse– central to achieving the MDGs with equity.

• Complex programming landscape—Multiple Partners

• Greater collaboration and consensus on child protection over the past five years – 3 SRSGs addressing various dimensions of violence (Follow up to SG’s report on VAC)

• Data collection on child protection - challenging yet advances, with growing evidence base (SG’s report, Global Data Collection: MICs, DHS, etc)

• Broadening of UNICEF’s engagement on children affected by armed conflict.

Situation of Children• In 2007, the births of around 51 million children were not registered.

− Children from the wealthiest households are 2 -3 times as likely to have their births registered than children from the poorest.

• In the developing world, 67 million young women (between 20-24 years of age) were first married or in union by age 18.

− Girls from the poorest households are 3 times more likely to be married before the age of 18, as compared to those from the richest.

− While the median age at first marriage has increased among the wealthiest women, it remains about the same among the poorest.

• Across 27 countries in Africa and one country in the Middle East, more than 70 million girls and women (aged 15-49 years) have undergone female FGM/C.

− FGM/C rates vary more by ethnicity than any other socio-demographic variable.

• Across regions, many children experience physical and emotional abuse regardless of wealth status.

• In 2002, WHO report estimated: 150 million girls and 73 million boys under 18 experienced sexual violence

• ILO estimated:150 million children under age 14 worldwide are engaged in child labour.

• Children are being recruited by armed forces and groups in at least 13 countries.

• Some 2 million children globally are living in institutions (but likely to be severely underestimated).

UNICEF Support to National & Local Level Violence Prevention

Key Areas of Intervention to Prevent and Respond to Violence, Exploitation and Abuse

System-strengthening:• Shift to holistic and sustainable approach through strengthening of services for prevention and

response, reinforced by legislation, regulations and policies:− 2010: 125 countries strengthening social welfare and justice systems.− Mapping and assessment of CP systems informing interventions.− Increasing alignment of laws, policies, regulations and services with international

standards: Countries with national policies on provision of alternative care for children in line with

international standards increased from 36 (2005) to 58 (2010).

- Support to birth registration in 62 countries, including innovative practices.• Shift from juvenile justice to justice for children:

− Governments that have taken measures to implement the UN Guidelines on Justice in Matters Involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime increased from 21 (in 2005) to 43 (in 2010).

• As of August 2011, 146 state parties to Optional Protocol to CRC on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and 142 state parties to the Optional Protocol to CRC on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict.

Key Areas of Intervention to Prevent and Respond to Violence, Exploitation and Abuse

(Continued)

Partnerships to address VAC:• Community based programmes to accelerate abandonment of FGM/C and child

marriage in 20 countries with UNFPA,EU, national governments/CSOs.

• Armed Violence Prevention Programme – a partnership between UNDP, WHO, UNODC, UN-Habitat, UN ODA and UNICEF

• Prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation programmes (eg. Together for Girls, locally based protection committees, one stop centers, specialized children’s unit in police)

Multi-sectoral interventions and support:• Violence prevention in Early Childhood Development (eg. Training to social workers,

community development service providers, parent support groups, community campaign)

• Violence in schools addressed through partnering with education on changing attitudes and practices

• Violence prevention in information and communication technology (child online protection) eg. Awareness raising/community campaign to prevent violence and provide information for children exposed to violence (cyber bullying, rape crisis information )

Studies underway in three areas to document experiences/lessons learnt

Strengthening Child Protection in Emergencies

• Countries incorporating child protection in emergency preparedness and response into national planning mechanisms: 55 (2010).

• Humanitarian coordination on child protection, gender-based violence (GBV), and mental health and psychosocial support:– In 2010, UNICEF led or co-led CP coordination in emergencies in 30 countries

and gender-based violence coordination in 6 countries. MHPSS guidelines implemented in over 30 countries.

• Continuing to address urgent protection issues, including child disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, separated and unaccompanied children, psychosocial support, GBV and mine action:

– 36,495 children formerly associated with armed groups and forces were reintegrated with UNICEF support over the period 2008-2010.

• Continued support to MICS, DHS, other HH surveys, and key data driven publications/ and national surveys and research (including gender programme analysis in 53 country programmes)

• Together for Girls: surveys on violence against children conducted in Tanzania, Swaziland, Kenya and Zimbabwe to inform programmatic response (amoung others)

• Technical support for development and strengthening of new tools, methodologies and systems. Interagency action research project on “community based child protection mechanism” UNICEF, Save the Children, Oak Foundation, USAID, Child Fund…

• Establishment of the interagency Child Protection M&E Reference Group (2010)a) development of technical and ethical guidelines for data collection on violence against children, b) development of technical and ethical guidelines for data collection on children in formal care

Data Collection and Research

Policy Formulation Enforcement Mechanism

Services for Children

Achievements (2010)

Malawi

•A comprehensive “child care, protection and justice Act-2010,” enacted,

•Community protection system strengthened

• Hospital based “One Stop Center” established for victim support

•Training and Technical support to stakeholders

•Psychosocial, medical, legal aid and referral services are ensured

•125,000 vulnerable children provided peer and psychosocial support•4,500 cases of family violence and neglect were attended by Community Victim Support Units•550 women and child survivors of family and sexual violence were provided services from hospital-based One Stop Centres•1,616 women and children accessed child-friendly and gender sensitive police services

Sierra Leone•Enacted child rights Act-2010,

•Developed child protection strategy

•Developed Sexual Offences Bill and the Legal Aid Bill

•Capacity building local councils, law enforcement officials,

• Formed national committee on GBV,

•Training of stakeholders on the referral protocol for child victims of SGBV

• Community discussion and interaction

•Medical, legal aid, and family mediation services are ensured

•Mobilised community to prevent violence through school drama, theatre performance,

•18 of the 19 Local Councils incorporated child protection into their annual development plans and budgets

•1,450 victims received counseling, family mediation and/or medical support, while 1,051 victims received legal support.

Some Examples of Country Specific Responses

Policy Formulation Enforcement Mechanism

Services for Children

Achievements (2010)

Costa Rica•Peace Builders: Networks for coexistence, communities without fear.

•Development of National Plan – with an Executive Decree requiring the development of school based strategies for violence reduction in schools.

Observatory of Best Practices and training modules for schools.

•Training modules developed – universal coverage planned by 2013 in all schools – progrmme launched by Minister of Education for national coverage.

Nepal• Discussion over Legislations in parliament and council of ministers

•Technical inputs provided to the draft legislations to comply with UNCRC and other standards

•Decentralised Action for Children and Women (DACAW) program developed and implemented

•Community CP system strengthened and expanded nationwide through paralegal committees (PLC),

•Early intervention against violence and abuse,

•Psychosocial, mediation, medical, reintegration, and legal aid services are ensured

•Paralegal Committees (PLCs) increased from 570 to 717 in 23 districts, handled around 10,000 children’s and women’s cases (domestic violence, sexual abuse, and child marriage) in 2010

•Expansion of PLC to all 75 districts initiated

•2,973 Verified Minors and Late Recruits (VMLR) were discharged from Maoist cantonments

•337 VMLR, 7,500 CAAFAG and 3,000 children affected by armed conflict received reintegration support for school enrolment and vocational training

Country Specific Responses Contd…….

Lessons Learned and Future DirectionsLessons Learned

• Multi-Sectoral approach essential (police, health, social welfare, justice)• Local level activities and accountability• Information and community awareness for challenging social norms• Legislative/policy framework

Challenges and Future Directions• Build evidence for what works to strengthen systemic approach to prevention and response

across contexts, including emergencies, and to reach the most marginalised.

• Acquisition of additional knowledge, grounded in field experience, on changing social norms, learning from child marriage/harmful practices programme experiences

• Strengthen data collection and M&E to ensure the most marginalised children, including those outside of households, are benefiting from interventions--

• Sharpen focus on partnerships, including with private sector, and strengthen multi-sectoral approaches.

• Mobilise greater financial resources for child protection to strengthen strategic approaches at all levels, from policy and advocacy to action on the ground, to deliver results for children.

Thank You!