Community cooperation and capacity-building for stronger child protection

Menbere Dawit

GBV Technical Adviser, UNHCR20 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 multi-levels

• 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, ThailandBelow: Photo from UNHCR archives

Towards long term child protection

• Cooperation and peace-building 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/48480c342.pdf UNHCR Guidelines on International Protection: Child Asylum Claims, 22 December 2009• http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4b2f4f6d2.htmlUNHCR Guidelines on International Protection: Victims of trafficking and persons at risk of being

trafficked, 7 April 2006• http://www.unhcr.org/443b626b2.htmlUNHCR Guidelines on Policies and Procedures in Dealing with Unaccompanied Children Seeking

Asylum, February 1997• http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/3ae6b3360.pdfUNHCR Handbook for the Protection of Women and Girls, January 2008• http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/47cfc2962.htmlUNHCR, Refugee Children: Guidelines on Protection and Care, 1994• http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/3ae6b3470.pdfUNHCR Refugee protection and mixed migration: The 10-Point Plan of Action, January 2007• http://www.unhcr.org/4742a30b4.html

Other resourcesAction for the Rights of Children (ARC) resource pack, 2009• http://www.savethechildren.net/arc/using/index.htmlInter-agency guidelines on unaccompanied and separated children, 2004• http://www.unhcr.org/4098b3172.htmlSCEP Statement of Good Practice, 2004• http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/415450694.pdf