Displaying 51 - 60 of 63
This study sought to assess, analyse and inform the different forms of vulnerabilities affecting children and youth, and their effects and existing strategies and programmes addressing the challenges and vulnerabilities facing orphans, vulnerable children and youth (OVCY) in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region. The study also sought to propose recommendations for improvement, and development of minimum standards for OVCY and the finalisation of the SADC OVCY Strategic Framework.
These Regulations and Tools are designed to create the basis for reforming welfare institutions, thereby protecting children and providing opportunities for those living in alternative care. They were adopted in 2010 and provide the basis through which the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) will regulate all child welfare institutions, including orphanages and alternative care arrangements such as foster care and kinship.
African governments have an impressive record in their formal accession to the relevant child-focused international treaties. But the extent of their commitment to children’s issues varies widely, and the gap between promises and reality remains wide in many countries. Why is this so? How well are African governments doing in meeting their national and international obligations? Which governments are doing well and which ones are not? How do countries rank in relation to each other? What is it that is right that child-friendly governments are doing, which poorly-performing countries can…
Sierra Leone is one the world’s poorest countries, ranked 177/177 in 2007 on the Human Development Index and has an estimated population of five million, 51% of whom are children. 11.3% of these children (283,000) are orphans having lost one or both parents as a result of the ten year civil war, low life expectancy in the country, HIV/AIDS and a host of other factors. 20.3% of the child population does not live with their biological parents who are alive.
Poverty coupled with ignorance of children’s rights, many of which are now enacted in the Child Rights Act, poor…
There is growing agreement that separated children are best cared for in community settings, rather than in institutions. However, even in a community setting, there is a need for standards of care that allow for monitoring of children’s well-being. This is particularly important in countries such as Sierra Leone which is recovering from a brutal civil war and suffering from poverty, malnutrition, and limited access to adequate medical care. Since the civil war ended in Sierra Leone, child fostering—whether informal or facilitated by humanitarian agencies and the government—has become the…
This report presents the findings of an assessment conducted between 8 July and 22 August 2006 that gathered and analyzed information on inter-country adoption to support strengthening Liberia’s adoption laws and develop operating guidelines for adoption agencies. The assessment is part of Liberia’s obligation as a signatory to the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child and was collaboration between the Liberian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, UNICEF, and Holt International Children’s Services.
The study found that Liberia’s adoption law fails to address the…
This report covers the period from August 2005 to June 2006 and highlights major activities implemented in relation to the child protection term of reference in collaboration with Child Protection Network Task Force headed by Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Liberia. This exercise was supported by UNICEF/Liberia to create capacity building that would enhance child welfare and protection of children in orphanages in Liberia. This summary presents an overview of care and services provided to children in orphanages throughout the country. Also, included in this report are some…
This document contains an updated list of literature and bibliographies concerning children and families affected by HIV/AIDS around the world. Resource topics include education, child headed households, care for children and families, community mobilization and capacity building, socio-economic impact and microeconomic response, evaluation and assessment, costing interventions and national response, situational analysis, law and policy, psychosocial issues, scaling-up and older care providers. Most of the resources are focused on sub-Saharan Africa.
In just over two decades, HIV/AIDS has grown from a health crisis into an economic and developmental crisis. By the end of 2000, there were more than 36.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS, including 1.5 million children under the age of 15. Ninety percent of those infected live in developing countries, 75% in Sub-Saharan Africa. As HIV/AIDS impacts on communities, children are often the most adversely affected. The devastating impact of the disease threatens the very fabric of the society-the family-as parents and caregivers die and leave children behind. It is estimated that more…
For Ms. Ladi Jika, a 44-year-old housewife and a mother of five, vaccination and mobilization of people to let their children receive the vaccine is not negotiable.
“I know vaccination prevents some diseases such as yellow fever, measles, meningitis and polio. That is why I visit every vaccination site with two of my children (19-month-old and four years old) to get vaccinated. I want to protect my family and I have mobilized my neighbours to receive the vaccines when the vaccinators come around”, Ms. Jika said.
What is more, she resides in difficult Sardauna Local…