This is the first monthly update of the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Learning Platform published in March 2022. 

The Regional Learning Platform on care reform for Eastern and Southern Africa provides an opportunity for government, UNICEF and others involved in care reform in the region to share learning through webinars,

Ce document fournit des conseils sur la manière d'appliquer les normes internationales lorsque vous travaillez avec des enfants et leurs familles touchés par cette crise. La question à poser, systématiquement - quelle que soit la décision, l'action ou le processus - est "qu'est-ce qui est dans l'intérêt supérieur de l'enfant?" Cela s'applique à des situations sur le terrain qui sont complexes et ne permettent pas de réponses faciles.

Este documento brinda orientación sobre cómo aplicar los estándares internacionales cuando se trabaja con niños y sus familias afectados por esta crisis. La pregunta que se debe hacer, de manera consistente, sea cual sea la decisión, acción o proceso, es "¿qué es lo mejor para el niño?" Esto se aplica a situaciones sobre el terreno que son complejas y no permiten respuestas fáciles.

This opinion piece published in the BMJ, argues that evidence based parenting support is needed for families in both sudden and protracted crises, to help protect children from adverse outcomes. The authors say that in emergencies, families need evidence based support that is accessible, relevant, and simple. The parenting programmes prevent and disrupt the intergenerational transmission of violence and trauma and improve mental health for parents and children. When combined with economic assistance (“‘cash plus care”) they are even more effective. 

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine introduced a modification of item 24 of "Rules of crossing of the state border by citizens of Ukraine". This is an unofficial English Google Translation of the original document published in Ukrainian which is included on Page 2 of this document.

Цей запис підготовлено Міністерством соціальної політики України за підтримки проекту «Підтримка державних реформ в Україні» (SURGe), відповідно до постанови Кабінету Міністрів України від 27.01.1995 р. № 57». Про затвердження Правил перетину державного кордону громадянами України» (в редакції постанови КМУ від 12.03.2022 р. № 264). У ньому викладено практичні рекомендації для громадян України при перетині державного кордону України. 

Intercountry adoption and new surrogacy procedures should not be initiated in the first phase of an emergency. Save the Children is calling for states to support a Moratorium on intercountry adoption and emergency surrogacy procedures in relation to Ukraine until the appropriate safeguards can be reinstated. While adoption can provide a safe and loving home for a child that needs a family, it must be regulated to ensure the best possible solution for each and every individual child.

This information note from the Hague Conference on Private International Law | Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé (HCCH) outlines the framework for the protection of children in emergency situations. It provides guidance on protecting children who are internationally displaced from Ukraine as well as intercountry adoption in armed conflict. 

The Government of Ukraine released this updated procedure for border crossing for orphans and children without parental care.

This report aims to provide the first estimate and profile of newborns in care proceedings in England using national population-level data and provide a critical discussion of the findings for further consideration and development by family justice stakeholders.

Separating a baby from his or her mother at birth when there are safeguarding concerns is traumatic for birth parents and painful for professionals. This report presents findings from a study that analysed qualitative data from the lived experiences of parents and professionals where the state intervened at birth. The aim was to identify key challenges and to surface good practice examples with a view to developing a draft set of best practice guidelines for piloting with partner research sites in England and Wales.

These are the closing remarks of Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, at a side event in the context of the 66th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. 

These opening remarks were delivered by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, at 49th session of the Human Rights Council 9 March 2022. The focus of her remarks was on the alarming numbers of children who are torn apart from their families due to a number of reasons.

This is the concept note for the 49th session of the Human Rights Council which is an annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child. The focus of this year's meeting was to  identify the implications of a child rights approach to family reunification, paying particular attention to preventing the separation of children from their families, and to children affected in cross-border situations. 

The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 45/30, in which the Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report on the rights of the child and family reunification. All children have the right to family life, yet millions worldwide are suffering preventable separation from their families and associated violations of their rights. In the present report, the High Commissioner recommends that States move to develop global, child rights-based guiding principles and a global strategy for family reunification.

This policy brief draws attention to Article 8 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which notes that a child has a right to identity including a name, a nationality and family relations. Whenever a child is deprived of one of these elements, States have an obligation to restore the child’s identity speedily. At the heart of any intercountry adoption (ICA) is the modification of a child’s identity given at birth. The brief also includes recommendations for policymakers.

This policy brief aims to foster an understanding that the provision of quality alternative care, requires that the child’s right to identity is safeguarded. 

The Russian Federation launched a military offensive against Ukraine on 24 February 2022. In three weeks, more than 3.2 million refugees have been forced to flee Ukraine, while an additional 6.5 million people have been displaced internally within the country.

The Russian Federation launched a military offensive against Ukraine on 24 February 2022. In three weeks, more than 3.2 million refugees have been forced to flee Ukraine, while an additional 6.5 million people have been displaced internally within the country. Over 12 million people have been affected in the areas hardest hit by the war within Ukraine. In these weekly updates, the UNHCR continues to call for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, respect for international humanitarian law, and appealed to neighbouring countries to continue keeping their borders open to those fleeing.

Протягом 24 лютого – 16 березня 2022 року через гарячу лінію було надано 12 083 консультацій у відповідь на 2 473 отриманих дзвінка.
Національна безкоштовна гаряча лінія з консультування мігрантів та протидії торгівлі людьми функціонує на базі неурядової організації “Відродження нації”. Гаряча лінія працює в межах Програми захисту і допомоги вразливим мігрантам Міжнародної організації з міграції (МОМ) в Україні за щедрої підтримки американського народу через проєкт Агентства США з міжнародного розвитку (USAID).