Child Protection in Emergencies UNICEF, ProCap Training 2007

UNICEF’s mandate UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights UNICEF is mandated to promote the survival, protection and development of children. UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child Child protection is one component of broader children’s rights

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) UN Gen Assembly and Security Council, reports and resolutions Medium Term Strategic Plan incl. protective environment Core Commitments for Children in Emergencies (CCCs) UNICEF Policy framework in Emergencies Humanitarian Reform / Cluster

UNICEF and Cluster Approach Cluster lead: WASH (all emergencies) Nutrition (all emergencies) Education (with Save Alliance) de facto Protection lead in natural disasters Cluster Member: Health (Lead: WHO) Protection (Lead UNHCR IDPs in complex emergencies) »Focal point for area of responsibility of Protection of children)

Defining Child Protection Actions to Prevent violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination Needs to be addressed: At the levels of all duty bearers Within traditional sectors such as health, education, water and sanitation With other partners and actors – social welfare, media, police, FBOs, justice officials, private sector Human Rights Based Approach to Programming vs Child Protection Human Rights Based Approach to Programming is the protection and promotion of child rights including education, health, development etc Child Protection is the protection from violence, abuse and exploitation

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), and its 2 Optional Protocols 4 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1979) Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) Refugee Convention and Protocols of 51 and 67 Convention on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor, ILO Convention 182 The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW (IHL) -- Basic Rule: Children must be given special protection 4 -- Children shall be the object of special respect and shall be protected against any form of indecent assault … Parties to the conflict shall provide them with care and aid they require…(GC IV) …. And more The 4 Geneva Conventions of 1948 and 2 additional protocols of ‘77

PRINCIPAL PROTECTION ISSUES FOR CHILDREN IN EMERGENCIES PROTECTION FROM PHYSICAL VIOLENCE AND ABUSE PROTECTION FROM SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE PROTECTION FROM PSYCHOSOCIAL DISTRESS PROTECTION FROM HIV/AIDS PROTECTION FROM RECRUITMENT INTO ARMED FORCES AND GROUPS PROTECTION FROM FAMILY SEPARATION PROTECTION FROM EXPLOITATION PROTECTION FROM REJECTION AND DISCRIMINATION 6

UNICEF’s Protection Framework 2 key references: Core Commitments for Children in Emergencies (what we have to do) Protective Environment (strategy for how to do it)

Core Commitments for Children “The CCCs” Commitments in relation to: 1. Guiding Principles 2. Progamme commitments –Health and nutrition –Water sanitation and hygiene –Child protection –Education –HIV-AIDs 3. Operational commitments 4. Organisational preparedness and support (HQ and regional offices)

Core Child Protection Commitments (In summary) 1.Rapid assessment  Monitoring  Advocate 2. Prevent and respond to separation  Support to separated children  Trace Families 3. Prevent and respond to GBV [and HIV transmission]  Minimise risk in humanitarian assistance 4. Establish safe environments for children  Psychosocial support 5. Prevent and respond to child recruitment 6. Coordinate mine risk education

UNICEF’s Protective Environment Overview Positions protection as a concept and a right. Illustrates the web of factors and actors influencing protection. Analytical tool for understanding what impedes child protection. Practical framework for identifying major barriers to protection. Supports a human rights approach to protection.

The Protective Environment: 8 elements

Summary of the 8 elements of the a protective environment 1.C apacity 2.A ttitudes, customs, and behaviour 3.L egislation 4.M onitoring and Reporting 5.S ervices 6.L ife skills 7.O pen discussion of protection issues 8.G overnment Commitment

Applying the protective environment in humanitarian settings Element C apacity * * A ttitudes, customs, and behaviour * * L egislation * M onitoring and Reporting * * * S ervices * * * L ife skills * O pen discussion of protection issues * G overnment Commitment * Examples?

Applying the protective environment in emergencies Examples  training teachers, health workers, social workers, lawyers  families and communities to early marriage / sexual exploitation  laws and recourse to GBV  of abductions, attacks on schools…  for family tracing and reintegration  knowledge on HIV and prevention of exploitation  through child protection committees  to releasing children recruited unlawfully Element C apacity * * A ttitudes, customs, and behaviour * * L egislation * M onitoring and Reporting * * * S ervices * * * L ife skills * O pen discussion of protection issues * G overnment Commitment *

Gender-Based Violence Core Commitments undertake humanitarian activities to minimizes risk Monitor, report and advocate Ensure legal and physical protection Ensure staff and partners sign the Code of Conduct Provide supportive environment Provide post-rape health and psychosocial care and support Provide confidential services ; Prot. Env. Element C apacity * * A ttitudes, customs, and behaviour * * L egislation * M onitoring and Reporting * * * S ervices * * * L ife skills * O pen discussion of protection issues * G overnment Commitment *

Priority interventions (CCC): Prevent separation from caregivers Identify, register and screen health Register parents and caregivers Provide care and protection Support tracing and reunification Family separation Prot. Env. Element C apacity * * A ttitudes, customs, and behaviour * * L egislation * M onitoring and Reporting * * * S ervices * * * L ife skills * O pen discussion of protection issues * G overnment Commitment *

Psychosocial support Focused specialized services Focused non-specialized services Community and family support Basic services and security Eg. re-establishing community and family networks e.g. Advocacy that these services are put in place Individual, family or group attention by trained workers Individuals with intolerable suffering

Priority interventions (CCC) Seek commitments from parties to refrain from recruiting and using children; Negotiate the release of children Monitor, report on and advocate against the recruitment and use; Introduce demobilization and reintegration programmes Child recruitment Prot. Env. Element C apacity * * A ttitudes, customs, and behaviour * * L egislation * M onitoring and Reporting * * * S ervices * * * L ife skills * O pen discussion of protection issues * G overnment Commitment * (and NSA)

 Protection of children from abuse, exploitation and violence is UNICEF definition of protection  Our commitments (CCCs) require programming to prevention and response to: psychosocial well-being, GBV - HIV, family separation, child recruitment, mine risk  Emerging issues: Use protective environment framework as more effective programming strategic framework to prevent and respond to abuse, exploitation and violence  Our approach focuses on all children affected by emergencies, including settled populations, host communities and IDPs Key messages

Tracing and reunification

Interim Care, Gulu

Young soldiers, DRC

Separation of adults and children