ADVOCACY MEETING: “Protection of children on the move” November, Laussane “Child protection systems and how children on the move benefit from it, a example from Eastern Europe” Vasilika Laci, Child Protection and Advocacy Officer, Terre des hommes in Albania.ppt

Brief History of Terre des hommes’s intervention in Albania 1999/2000: Disappearance of children – special investigation in Albania and Greece : TACT I and II “Prevention, Reintegration and Assistance for Child Victims of Exile” and “Assisted Voluntary Return” programmes : TACT III “A direct, coordinated and comprehensive response against trafficking” through Prevention, Protection of victims and Coordination and Advocacy” : Child Protection Safety Net

CPSN Project The “Developing a Child Protection Safety Net in Albania” (CPSN) Project (October 2009 – April 2012) is the consolidation of the former TACT project (Transnational Action against Child Trafficking). Aims to achieve a child protection safety net able to protect children against trafficking and other forms of abuse, violence, exploitation or neglect, applying national and international standards.

Why support CPSN and system building? Contribute  to create mechanisms for all children in need of protection (is it child trafficking / exploitation ?)  to protection, prevention, recovery (reintegration)  change the normative context – values and norms regarding children

Institutions Community Child Family A. Knowledge Management C. Implementation, monitoring and enforcement B. Social Norms and Legislation D. Prevention & Response Services E. Social Participation Child Protection Safety Net (CPSN)

How can CPS protect CoM - provide a safe environment at home - support integration/ reintegration when children return - liase with CP services in other transit/ destination countries

Axis 1 - Establishment and strengthening of (local) Child Protection Units, in municipalities Establishment and functionality of municipal Child Protection Units (CPU) 9 municipalities: ( Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokastra, Korca, Pogradec, Saranda and Vlora and in Tirana) able to analyze the situation of vulnerable children, on case per case basis and acting according to the child’s need for his/her best interest. Activities: – Implementation and development of CPU model – Support and training of Child Protection Workers, preparation of the module of training – Financial and technical support to prevention/ protection activities – On the job technical assistance for case management of most severe cases (support with CYS and Skype case conferences) – Support for the drafting of Municipal Plans for Social Services

Directory of Social Services CPU Cash benefit Sector

Schools are included in the CPSN, at the local level, ensuring early identification and referral. Activities: – Training of headmasters and school psychologists on the use of the manual for identification, management or referral of cases in need of protection all over the country, – Assistance to 5 Regional Directorates of Education for monitoring the system – Financial and technical assistance for schools’ prevention activities – Participation to the development of training tools for school psychologists’ and headmasters’ national curriculum of training (2011). – Institutionalization of child protection standards and procedures Axis 2 - Involvement of schools as child protection stakeholders

Axis 3 - Support to marginalized communities to create a safer environment for children Support marginalized communities to contribute in ensuring a safer environment and support a sustainable livelihood for their children Activities: Dev-elopment and support of Community Counseling Groups Support and joint interventions with Partner Organisations: Arsis, FBSh, Amarodrom, Romani Baxt Community-based activities to promote child rights Income generating activities in collaboration with CAAP

Axis 4 - Implementation of care standards in residential institutions Expected result: Residential institutions are supported to implement and monitor care standards for children in institutions Activities: – Training on care standards – Testing self-auditing tools and monitoring the implementation of care standards – Counseling and assistance for implementation of psychosocial activities

Axis 5 - Advocacy and collaboration with all stakeholders through enhanced communication and experience sharing Expected result: A consistent and ongoing communication process to enhance experience sharing, create synergies among all stakeholders concerned with child protection at all levels and across levels, and harmonize their efforts to social service reform is initiated Activities: – Advocacy work in collaboration with BKTF – Multi-stakeholder Child Protection Round Tables – Experience sharing, forums, conference, newsletters, experience capitalisation tools

MOVE Project MOVE project - supported by UEFA: Psychosocial Development of Children through Games and Sport. Objective: improve the well-being of children and to help prevention of child exploitation through games and sports. - training of community-based animators, sport teachers, primary school teachers and Tdh staff to improve their psychosocial and methodological competencies.  Training of Trainers methodology → MOVE animators become trainers for their peers - on an individual level, games and sport enable children to reinforce their own personal and social capacities, influencing their general well-being. - on a global level, they support reintegration of the children into their family, local community and/or school system.

MARIO Project A joint advocacy platform of 4 NGOs in the field of child protection: - Objective: to enforce better protection of migrant and trafficked children Lobby with national and European decision-makers to improve child protection of children on the move. Advocate for long standing provision of better services to meet the needs and wishes of children at risk of exploitation / trafficking. Linking professionals from countries of origin, transit and destination for improved services delivered for migrant children by better understanding the context they are coming from and the context of exploitation once arrived. Tracing new roots and trends or risks of children on the move.

Lessons Learnt Continuous assessment of the situation Child participation is crucial in assessing/ evaluating the interventions

BKTF Cooperation and coordination of 25 organizations to work for Child Protection Establishment of partnerships with state institutions & international agencies Awareness Raising Campaigns Influenced the media on advocating on children’s issues

Thank you for your attention!