Policy Analysis and Practitioner Documents
Source: UN Secretary GeneralThis note provides the guiding principles and framework for UN justice for children activities at the national level that apply in all circumstances, including in conflict prevention, crisis, postcrisis, conflict, post-conflict and development contexts. It is framed within the UN mandate to support the realisation of human rights, poverty reduction and the Millennium Development Goals, and is a contribution to the UN coherence agenda in the rule of law area. The UN approach to justice for children involves two tracks to ensure that children are better served and protected by justice systems. The first aims to ensure greater attention to children in rule of law initiatives, and the second suggests additional interventions necessary to strengthen rule of law efforts in terms of justice for children specially and to guarantee full respect for child rights. Both these tracks are described in the note and integrated in the framework for strengthening the rule of law as described in the UN approach to rule of law assistance.
Source: Graca Machel, UN A/51/306.Add.1This 1994 study on the impact of armed conflict on children was conducted by the Secretary General appointed expert, Graça Machel, with the support of the United Nations Center for Human Rights and the United Nations Children’s Fund. The author proposes a comprehensive agenda for action by the international community and Member states to improve the situation of children in conflict zones. The themes are broken into seven sections. Section One gives background information on the plight of children in conflict. Section Two is centered around mitigating the impact of armed conflict on children; background on refugees and IDP children; sexual exploitation and gender based violence; landmines; sanctions; health and nutrition; promoting psychological recovery and social reintegration; and education. Section Three provides analysis of the relevance and adequacy of existing standards for the protection of children. Section Four is concerned with reconstruction and reconciliation. Sections Five and Six deal with implementation mechanisms and provide some conclusions.
Source: Michael Shipler, Search for Common Ground and Radio for PeacebuildingThis guide is intended as a toolkit for both professionals working in radio, as well as novice youth and young leaders designing and implementing positive peacebuilding radio initiatives in Africa. This guide is a part of a series of guides developed for radio producers in Africa by Radio for Peacebuilding, Africa project, a project of Washington DC based Search for Common Ground. With the vision that youth radio can be used to help resolve conflict and build peace, this guide hopes to foster communication between youth and adult decision makers and “educate young people about the power they have to build peace in their own communities.” The guide includes: a how-to guide to analyzing conflict; an analysis of the affects of conflict on youth and how radio can help; tools and examples of how radio professionals can create youth radio initiatives; guidance for adults working with young people on radio programs for peacebuilding; and tools to help young producers take part in creating peacebuilding radio.
Source: Save the Children UKThis guide, written by Save the Children UK, aims to provide collection of tried and tested methods for encouraging young people to become actively involved in local community regeneration. The guide is aimed for adults with limited experience working with youth, but who nonetheless, either have youth centred programs, or work with youth directly. The guide sets out a process for: consulting youth about their views; understanding the rights of young people; supporting them to put their ideas in action; and working with them to foster change. The programme aims to: introduce young people to human rights, explore issues that affect them, build capacity among youth, and draw on community development ideas and methods to empower youth to action.
Source: Lenka Chludova and Celina Del Felice, UNOY PeacebuildersThis youth centered guide produced by United Network of Young Peacebuilders is geared towards increasing the effectiveness of youth peacebuilders. The guide is organized as a self-assessment evaluation tool that allows users to evaluate their work and its impact. Questions are intended to help users assess their work on three levels: personal; team; and project in its social context and consist of a series of questions about teamwork, personal goals and organizational dynamics.
Source: Amy Hepburn, Jan Williamson, and Tanya Wolfram, Save the ChildrenThese Save the Children guidelines on Separated Children are part of the six-part Children and War Program Capacity Building Initiative. This field guide was developed specifically for SC field staff, headquarters and partner organizations, and was developed ”as the basis of in-depth training sessions on priority subjects, while including quick implementation tools, such as checklists of key concerns, sample forms, and rapid guideline references in a portable format.” The field guide covers the following topics: a breakdown of the issues affecting children; the international framework; the programming framework; the programming process; and a conclusion of key issues to be addressed when planning and managing programs for separated children.
Source: International Save the Children AllianceThis document, produced by Save the Children UK, presents a set of best practices standards developed on the basis of experience in children's participation in countries across the world and used as an internal standard for all Save the Children programmes. These guidelines aim to provide a framework that gives guidance and direction to field staff and informs participatory policy. Standards are broken up into seven categories: ethical approaches; relevance of child participation; child friendly environment; equality of opportunity; staff; benefits of participation; and follow-up and evaluation.
Source: International Committee of the Red Cross, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, United Nations Children's Fund, International Rescue Committee, Save the Children/UK, World Vision InternationalThese Inter-agency guidelines were developed by the Working Group on Unaccompanied and Separated Children. This expert group was comprised of key organizations with on the ground experience working on issues concerning separated children. It includes: UNHCR, IRC, ICRC, Save the Children, UNICEF and World Vision. These comprehensive principles were compiled with the objective of promoting and supporting preparedness coordination and good practices based on lessons learned. The principles, based on human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, were established for the purpose of guiding future action. The guidelines are directed at: creating a comprehensive approach; preserving family unity; tracing and family reunification; care arrangements; long-term placement; refugee children; and promoting children’s rights.
Source: International Save the Children AllianceThis toolkit, on Involving Children in Research is part of a three part series developed by the International Save the Children Allicane and aims to support children's meaningful and ethical participation in research relating to violence against children. The toolkit seeks to give guidance on ethical issues, ways of approaching this work and on techniques that can be used to involve children’s voice. The document has two main topical areas: involving children in secondary research and involving children in primary research with sections on best pratices regarding approaching children, how best children can be involved, as well as ethical issues surrounding the participation of children in research.
Source: International Save the Children AllianceThe manual, produced by Save the Children UK, is a practical resource for professionals and young people to help children contribute to decisions that affect them, as individuals and as a group at unit, local and national levels. This training tool for both professionals and young people examines: the importance of empowerment to children and young people; the benefits of empowerment to children and professionals alike; the barriers to empowerment, and the need for workers and organisations to understand their own intentions.
Source: International Save the Children AllianceThis toolkit, developed by the International Save the Children Alliance, in consulation with key NGOs, and presented at the 2002 UN General Assembly special session on children, is inteded as a guide of good practice on how to get started, organise a consultation, ensure quality follow up and more when working with children. The toolkit covers consultation processes with children that are: participatory processes outside the child’s home environment or community, and participatory debates and consultations that involve children in formal decision maing processes. It is aimed mainly at government, INGOs and international agencies and is designed to help them create a participatory environment where children can take part in polcy debates and discussions.
Source: European UnionThis short set of EU guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict are intended to aid in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, one of the EU's priority areas tied to human rights policy. “The EU’s objective is to influence third countries and non state actors to implement international human rights norms and standards and humanitarian law, as well as regional international human rights law instruments…and to take effective measures to protect children from the effects of armed conflict, to end the use of children in armies and armed groups, and to end impunity.” The list of guidelines address the issues of: monitoring and reporting of EU heads of missions and other EU representatives; assessment and recommendation for action by the Council Working Group on Human Rights (COHOM); EU tools for actions by third countries; and implementation and follow up.
Source: Isobel McConnan and Sarah Uppard, Save the Children FundDeveloped by Save the Children, this paper provides am extensive list of guidelines for those working with youth and children directly involved in armed conflict. Although written for use by practitioners working on DDR of children, it would be useful for managers and policy makers as well. The recommendations are drawn from a variety of lessons learned in various countries and highlight issues in need of further research. The paper is divided into three sections: part one sets up a framework for action; part two breaks down the various actions that comprise DDR; and part three makes recommendations on organizational good practices. Good practices cover the following topics: good practices by agencies; working with children, communities and government; and information for child protection.
Source: BASIC/International Alert/Saferworld (Biting the Bullet Series)This report seizes on the opportunities provided by the 2001 UN conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and to examine the issues associated with small arms and children. This report examines how the proliferation and misuse of SALM has adversely affected the lives of children in areas of conflict. Using case studies from several conflicts in Africa, Latin America and Asia, this report identifies current initiatives to control SALM and mitigate the affects on children. In addition, it offers recommendations for “a Framework of Action with measures to be taken at national, regional and international levels. The framework for action covers the following topics: controlling the trade in small arms; child soldiers; DDR; gender dimensions; norms and standards for protection of children and adolescents; education and awareness raising; and future action and research.
Source: Glen Miles and Paul Stephenson, TearfundTeafund’s guidelines on children in conflict and war were established as part of their multi-part Children at Risk Guidelines series. Volume 6 of the series centers on children caught up in conflict and war and is intended for use with the Tearfund Child Development Study Pack. The guidelines are based on a framework for good practices, the main themes are: building relationships; parental responsibilities; working at different levels; identifying needs and priorities; children’s participation; children in context; advocacy; and child-sensitive indicators. In addition, case studies on several African cases provide context for lessons learned and good practices in action.
Source: International Save the Children AllianceThis Save the Children document addressing the situation of children affected by landmines is the second from the ogranization’s Working Group on Children Affected by Armed Conflict and Displacement. The document covers: international legislation concerning land mines and current responses; starting points for planning, including major injuries sustained by children and the affect on vulnerable children; program approaches on child rights and development, including the importance of community based support, education and vocational training, health and medical support and institutions; and guiding principles and recommendations for future action.
Source: International Save the Children Alliance, Working Group on Children Affected by Armed Conflict and DisplacementThis working document is the outcome an outcome of the 1995 Save the Children Working Group that brought together several of the Alliance's most experienced child psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. These practitioners were brought together to discuss their work in different parts of the world, draw out common factors and lessons learned and prepare a joint Alliance contribution to Graça Machel Study for the UN. “The resulting paper is a working document whose purpose is to stimulate debate on different approaches to psychosocial assistance to war-affected children.” The document is broken into two main sections the first examining the psychosocial affect of war or children, the second establishing principles and approaches to mitigate these effects.
Source: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees This document of UNHCR guidelines on refugee children were first published in 1988 and revisited in 1993. These guidelines, based on the belief that children are vulnerable, dependent and developing, define the objectives, principles and practical measures for UNHCR protection and assistance of refugee children. Each main chapter contains a checklist to be used as a quick evaluation tool for field office measures to ensure the needs of children are met. Although these guidelines are primarily intended to enhance the capacity of UNHCR staff designing programs that are responsive to the rights and needs of refugee children, other organizations may find them useful for program development.
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