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This Human Rights Council Side event was co-sponsored by Permanent Missions of Kenya, Portugal, Uruguay and Viet Nam, African Child Policy Forum, ATD 4th World, Better Care Network, CELCIS, Family for Every Child, For Our Children Foundation, Hope and Homes for Children, International Federation of Social Workers, International Foster Care Organisation, International Social Service, RELAF, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages International and UNICEF. The side event was held on 22 September 2015 and was attended by over 40 participants from different Missions including USA, Canada,…
Representatives from International Social Service, Save the Children, and SOS Children’s Villages met with the African Committee on Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child during its 21st session on 15 April, 2013 to present on the international Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children (UNGA resolution A/RES/64/142) and its new implementation Handbook “Moving Forward.” The presentation included a brief introduction to the Guidelines; an overview of the core principles of the Guidelines; a description of the need for, and development of, the handbook; a summary of the handbook…
The Guidelines for Action on Intercountry Adoption of Children in Africa was adopted at the Fifth International Policy Conference on the African Child held on 29-30 May 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The objectives of the Guidelines are to facilitate and support the efforts of States to take all appropriate legal, administrative, and other measures to ensure that all persons and organizations involved in the adoption of a child act in conformity with applicable international legal instruments. Recommendations are set forth for central authorities and accredited bodies, accountability for…
The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) is an important tool for advancing children’s rights. While building on the same basic principles as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the AU Children’s Charter highlights issues of special importance in the African context. Learn more here.
HIV/AIDS is a major cause of infant and childhood mortality and morbidity in Africa. In children under five years of age, HIV/AIDS now accounts for 7.7% of mortality worldwide. AIDS already accounts for a rise of more than 19% in infant mortality and a 36% rise in under five mortality. Together with factors such as declining immunisation, HIV/AIDS is threatening recent gains in infant and child survival and health.
Yet, for the most part, HIV infection in children is preventable. In industrialised countries in North America and Europe, paediatric HIV infection has largely been controlled.…
The sheer number of orphaned and vulnerable children is overwhelming. Many well-meaning donors are funding orphanages as a solution to the problem. However, orphanages are expensive and can only reach small numbers of children. Research by the World Bank in Tanzania, for example, found the cost of operating orphanages to be six times higher than the cost of caring for children in the community. Most importantly, orphanages separate children from family and community life. They often fail to meet children’s developmental needs and do not prepare them for adult life in the larger society. While…
In many of the childcare institutions and other forms of care provision, the quality of provision is below a standard, which would ensure the protection and guidance necessary for a minimum level of child development. Fundamental to the poor quality of care is a lack of acknowledgement or understanding of the nature of care necessary or acceptable, in non-family care services. This is despite an increased awareness of and intention to support children’s rights on the part of individuals, NGOs and governments.
The following set of indicators are intended to guide SC (UK)…
WHAT: A set of standards and indicators to guide staff and agencies in the provision of a minimum standard of care for children. The standards apply across a range of care settings and cover the delivery and administration of child care services, staff and caregiver competence, and the quality of care children should expect to receive.
These standards are based on work carried out in east and central Africa, and have been piloted across a range of agencies in the region. Please refer to document Applying the Standards - Improving Quality…