UNICEF Case Study

UNICEF & Child Protection in Emergencies Program (CPIE)

UNICEF’s approach to child protection in the context of emergency response is based on the Child Protection Strategy (2008) and the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs, 2010). The vision of the Strategy is to create a protective environment through on going protective interventions in pre-crisis, crisis and post-crisis phases. (UNICEF, 2012)

Child Protection Strategy (UNICEF, 2008; UNICEF, 2012)

• The Child Protection Strategy defines the contribution of UNICEF to national and international efforts to fulfill children’s rights to protection and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, within the context of the UNICEF medium-term strategic plan (MTSP) for 2006-2009. The strategy has been developed through intensive consultation with a wide range of key partners and UNICEF staff.

• The strategy has particular relevance to humanitarian response in several areas such as, the strengthening of systems for prevention and response; support for positive social change; and implementation of emergency-specific multi-partner guidance and mechanisms.

Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (UNICEF, 2010; UNICEF, 2012)

• The Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs), is the UNICEF policy to uphold the rights of children who have been affected by humanitarian crisis. The CCCs present a framework for humanitarian action, around which partners are engaged. The CCCs attempt to promote predictable, effective and timely collective humanitarian action. The CCCs are guided by international law, with particular attention paid to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

• The CCCs work in tandum with Child Protection Strategy maintainin...

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...ove issues, the Protective Learning and Community Emergency Services program (PLACES) was introduced in 2011 as part of the CPIE program. (UNICEF, 2012) This was by far the largest component of the program, which accounted for over 84% of the CPIE budget. (UNICEF, 2012)

The Places program was designed to target children, adolescents and women providing them with gender- and age-appropriate support, through community centres, tents, or mobile units such as vans. (UNICEF, 2012) PLACES also trained community based volunteer committees as a link to the community. (UNICEF, 2012) The vast majority of child protection activities such as: psychosocial support; identification, documentation, tracing and reunification of separated/unaccompanied children; preventing/addressing GBV and other forms of violence; mine risk education, were carried out using PLACES. (UNICEF, 2012)