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In almost all armed conflicts, mass population displacements, natural disasters and other crises, a number of children become separated from their families or from other adults responsible for them. These children form one of the most vulnerable groups in these situations, often deprived of care and protection. Most can be reunited with parents, siblings, members of the extended family or other adults whom they know and who are willing to provide for their care.
Action on behalf of unaccompanied and separated children should be guided by principles enshrined in international standards. The…
Responsibility for assisting and protecting internally displaced persons (IDPs) lies first and foremost with the national authorities. In situations of armed conflict, combatants (including non-state armed groups) and occupying powers also have legal responsibilities for IDPs under international humanitarian and human rights law.
In situations where the authorities are either unable or unwilling to meet their responsibility, international humanitarian and development organizations have the right to offer their services to alleviate suffering and support national efforts. …
Millions of children around the world live in institutions, formal or informal foster care, or are otherwise separated from their parents. Many more are at risk of separation due to the impact of HIV/AIDS, armed conflict, disability, poverty and social breakdown. Children without parental care – in institutions, living with relatives or in foster families - find themselves at a higher risk of exploitation, abuse and neglect, and their well-being is often insufficiently monitored. Children may be placed in institutions unnecessarily and for too long. An inadequate care environment can impair a…
The Inter-Parliamentary Union, the world organisation of Parliaments, and UNICEF, the organisation mandated by the United Nations to promote and ensure respect for the rights of children, have worked together to produce this handbook for parliamentarians. They have done so in recognition of the ethical, legal and developmental imperatives surrounding child protection. Both organisations have a long-standing commitment to the protection of children, and both are determined to make every effort to make protection a reality.
The fulfilment of children’s rights, including those to protection,…
Considerable and quite innovative efforts are being undertaken in a number of countries by the staff of United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to provide protection to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable groups, often in extremely difficult and dangerous circumstances.
In some countries, the dissemination and promotion of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement to national and local authorities and to UN and NGO staff have provided a clear and practical framework for protection programs and activities. These include the development of…
Nearly three generations of Angolans have been at war for 41 years. Despite the shortage of data in Angola, reports indicate that a large numbers of girls were abducted during the war. Little information is available regarding the nature of the abducted girl’s experiences and the impact of their experiences on subsequent integration into community life. The anecdotal evidence gathered here (from interviews of 20 young women from peri-urban Luanda and rural Huambo provinces) suggests that when these girls return to their communities, they lack the emotional, social, legal and economic support…
This report examines and discusses the risks faced by African orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs); the costs and pros and cons of interventions working with OVCs; and provides guidance on what kinds of intervention or approaches might work in a given country context or situation.
The study emphasizes three concerns: the vulnerabilities associated with orphanhood require immediate attention; there is an urgent need to target assistance to the neediest children; although there is still no blueprint on the best way to scale up interventions, the World Bank’s multicountry AIDS programs…
This study analyses the situation of girls associated with armed forces and groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In particular, this study seeks to understand why girls are not reached by the efforts to gain the release of children associated with armed groups in DRC and to support their reintegration.
The issue of gaining the release of girls associated with armed groups and supporting their reintegration is highly complex. This study concludes that only a minority of girls will be reached through the formal processes of “DDR” – disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration.…
During the post-conflict period, prevention of new violence depends on the willingness of armed groups to lay down their arms, disband military structures and return to civilian life. When armed groups or warlords do not put down their weapons or disband their structures, peace is not possible. Therefore, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) marks the beginning of long-term transformation processes, demilitarizing economies, communities and lives. DDR provides perhaps the first opportunity for armed groups, political parties and men and women to renegotiate their identities and…
In recent years, the devastating consequences of long term and violent conflicts across the globe have generated tremendous interest in the psychosocial effects of complex emergencies on children, families and communities. At the same time, as relief organizations have developed projects to address these critical issues, there have been relatively few resources available to these implementing agencies on how to measure the effectiveness of their work. What concepts, methods and tools might be used to evaluate psychosocial projects implemented during crisis situations? How do we know if…