Protection Gender and Inclusion PGI Brief Child Protection
Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) Brief Child Protection
Protection, Gender and Inclusion Brief – Child Protection What is child protection? • How it fits within PGI: Part of the Protection (“P”) aspect. • Definition: Child protection refers to ensuring children are safe from all forms of physical or psychological or emotional violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation including sexual abuse. • Age of a child: The IFRC Child Protection Policy, aligned with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, defines a child as any person under the age of 18 years.
Protection, Gender and Inclusion Brief – Child Protection What is the background? • Children often represent a high portion or majority of the population affected by emergencies • There is a consistent deprioritization of child protection in humanitarian action, reported year on year by child protection coordination groups and evidenced by statistics on funding and the funding of other research efforts in the humanitarian sector § Research shows that the voices of children are often not heard and do not influence humanitarian decision-making
Protection, Gender and Inclusion Brief – Child Protection What are common threats in emergencies § § § Separation from families Psychosocial distress and mental disorders SGBV and harmful practices like child marriage Exploitation including by emergency responders Trafficking and child labour; Lack of access to basic essential services such as health care, education, and legal support.
Protection, Gender and Inclusion Brief – Child Protection What are gender, age and disability aspects? § Children can have different needs and vulnerabilities based on their gender, age and disability status. Girls and boys might have different cultural expectations and face discrimination based on their gender, this is often the case against girls. § Girls and boys can have unique physiological needs, such as the need for menstrual hygiene management for girls. § Young children are more reliant on parents and more physically and cognitavely less developed than adolescents; while adolescents have greater sexual and reproductive health needs. § Children with disabilities are at significantly higher risks of different forms of violence compared to other children. §
Protection, Gender and Inclusion Brief – Child Protection What standards apply? § The Convention on the Rights of the Child outlines the rights of all children, everywhere, in all circumstances. The Convention applies in emergencies too. § Child protection is part of the PGI Minimum Standards. § The inter-agency, Sphere companion Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action provide detailed guidance and list basic actions for all humanitarian agencies. These can support the PGI Minimum Standards. §
Protection, Gender and Inclusion Brief – Child Protection What action can be taken? § The guiding principle for all actions concerning children must be: The Best Interest of the Child. This means considering carefully: is the action safe, is it dignified, does it meet minimum standards, is it what the child wants, etc. § Any concerns about violence against a child must be reported according to local laws. Action is not optional, it must be taken.
Protection, Gender and Inclusion Brief – Child Protection What action can be taken? Everyone interacting with children is responsible for child protection § Ensure safeguarding for personnel interacting with children by screening (e. g. reference checks) for any risk, signing a National Society or IFRC child protection policy, and briefing on the child protection policy, and monitoring for safe interactions. § Map out local referral services and pathways for children needing protection. § Provide or help others to deliver essential services (including reception facilities, RFL, and access to education, health, shelter, and legal services) to unaccompanied and separated children and other children on their own. §
Protection, Gender and Inclusion Brief – Child Protection What action can be taken? § § § Conduct psychosocial support, including psychosocial first aid, for children. Establish safe spaces and community-based activities for children. Include messages on child protection within community outreach. Ensure these are child friendly. Include child protection as part of humanitarian diplomacy. Seek partnerships with UNICEF, UNHCR, IOM, International NGOs, and local NGOs.
Protection, Gender and Inclusion Brief – Child Protection Resources § § § Child Protection Policy http: //media. ifrc. org/ifrc/wpcontent/uploads/sites/5/2018/03/193_e_v 100_child-protection-policy. pdf Online Course on Child Protection Policy https: //ifrc. csod. com/client/ifrc/default. aspx Position Paper on Protection and Assistance for Children on the Move https: //media. ifrc. org/ifrc/document/ifrc-position-paper-protection-assistance-childrenmove/ Alone and Unsafe: Children, Migration, and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence https: //media. ifrc. org/ifrc/press-release/ifrc-world-failing-child-migrants-risk-violenceexploitation-sexual-abuse/ Massive Open Online Course on Caring for Children Moving Alone https: //www. celcis. org/training-and-events/caring-children-moving-alone-protectingunaccompanied-and-separated-children-online-course/ Smart Practices for Working with Unaccompanied and Separated Children https: //media. ifrc. org/ifrc/document/manual-smart-practices-working-migrantunaccompanied-separated-children-europe-region/
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