Community cooperation and capacitybuilding for stronger child protection

Community cooperation and capacity-building for stronger child protection Menbere Dawit GBV Technical Adviser, UNHCR 20 May 2010 Photo by Brendan Bannon, Namibia

Child Protection Systems • International child protection framework • National legal framework • Enforcement of protective legislation • Protection for children of all nationalities Photo from UNHCR archives

Violence against displaced children • Refugee children/children of concern • Protection risks linked to violence • Different needs – Gender – Unaccompanied and separated children – Adolescents – Rural vs. urban – Disabilities Photo from UNHCR archives

UNHCR’s Protection Mandate • Children of concern to UNHCR • Protection and assistance • Cooperation with community partners • Inter-agency cooperation on child protection Photo by Brendan Bannon, Namibia

Communities as the front line for child protection • National systems and communities • Local awareness of and support for child protection concerns • Engaging partners and stakeholders at multilevels • Inclusion of marginalized children Photos from UNHCR archives

Addressing the immediate needs of children • Physical protection • Addressing immediate needs (food, shelter, clothing, medical, etc. ) • Identifying children with special needs e. g. HRIT (Heightened Risk Identification Tool) • Guardianship Archive photo from south Asia

Continuing protection for children over several years • Safe and protective environments • Capacity-building in local institutions and communities • Stronger investment in livelihoods and vocational training • Temporary care for UASC; family tracing • Reporting and referral mechanisms in place Above: Karen refugee children, Thailand Below: Photo from UNHCR archives

Towards long term child protection • Cooperation and peacebuilding involving women and children • Sustained psycho-social care services • Change in community: – – – Attitudes Behaviors Customs Traditions Practices Expectations Photo from UNHCR archives, the Americas

Community activation • Activating community protection mechanisms • Dialogue • Information campaigns • Children’s advocacy in host community Archive photo from the Americas

Good practices • Community-based protection networks • Coordinating GBV data collection with agencies and NGOs • • • Coordinated GBV data collection; common terminology Focused data is needed for studying trends and providing stronger GBV prevention and response programming Best Interests Determination (BID) of a child Photo from UNHCR archives, the Americas

Good practices (continued) • Child’s Rights Clubs in refugee communities and schools • Participatory Assessments – Community ownership – Child’s perspective considered in planning and programming • Monitoring and referral procedures in place – Safe reporting mechanisms for children Photo of Iraqi youth in Damascus

UNHCR child protection guidelines and resources UNHCR Guidelines on Determining the Best Interests of the Child, May 2006 • http: //www. unhcr. org/refworld/pdfid/48480 c 342. pdf UNHCR Guidelines on International Protection: Child Asylum Claims, 22 December 2009 • http: //www. unhcr. org/refworld/docid/4 b 2 f 4 f 6 d 2. html UNHCR Guidelines on International Protection: Victims of trafficking and persons at risk of being trafficked, 7 April 2006 • http: //www. unhcr. org/443 b 626 b 2. html UNHCR Guidelines on Policies and Procedures in Dealing with Unaccompanied Children Seeking Asylum, February 1997 • http: //www. unhcr. org/refworld/pdfid/3 ae 6 b 3360. pdf UNHCR Handbook for the Protection of Women and Girls, January 2008 • http: //www. unhcr. org/refworld/docid/47 cfc 2962. html UNHCR, Refugee Children: Guidelines on Protection and Care, 1994 • http: //www. unhcr. org/refworld/pdfid/3 ae 6 b 3470. pdf UNHCR Refugee protection and mixed migration: The 10 -Point Plan of Action, January 2007 • http: //www. unhcr. org/4742 a 30 b 4. html Other resources Action for the Rights of Children (ARC) resource pack, 2009 • http: //www. savethechildren. net/arc/using/index. html Inter-agency guidelines on unaccompanied and separated children, 2004 • http: //www. unhcr. org/4098 b 3172. html SCEP Statement of Good Practice, 2004 • http: //www. unhcr. org/refworld/pdfid/415450694. pdf