Displaying 1 - 10 of 25
Abstract
This paper, produced for the Know Violence global learning initiative, looks at the violence children experience in closed institutions in the Central Asian countries, specifically the former Soviet republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In these countries, despite considerable efforts to develop alternatives, the number of children placed in various residential care units remains extremely high. In-depth interviews with local experts and focus group discussions in these four countries were the main method of gathering data as well as desk research focussing…
Executive Summary
We demonstrate that the overuse of institutional care is far more widespread than official statistics suggest; it remains a very serious problem, with damaging effects on children’s development. Many attempts at reform have been well meaning but misguided, and there is a serious danger that many view the overthrow of the communist system as sufficient evidence of reform in the region. These problems have far-reaching consequences: each generation of damaged children is likely to turn into a generation of damaged adults, perpetuating the problems far into the future.…
This presentation was given by Elana Gaia, Social Policy Specialist for UNICEF CEE/CIS and Denise Stuckenbruck, Child Protection Specialist for UNICEF ESARO, at Innocenti’s Expert Consultation on Family and Parenting Support on 26-27 May 2014. The presentation includes an overview of family trends in the CEE/CIS region, some promising practices in social protection, and thoughts for going forward.
On 10 September 2014, UNICEF and the Permanent Mission of Bulgaria co-hosted a high level Lunchtime Discussion on The right of children below three years to live in a caring and supportive family environment: examples from Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.The discussion took place on the margins of the September meeting of the UNICEF Executive Board and brought together over 80 participants, including members of the UNICEF Executive Board, representatives of the Permanent Missions to the UN from the CEE/CIS region, international organizations, NGOs, high level UNICEF and…
This article describes the nutritional and developmental status of young children living in Baby Houses (orphanages for children ages 0–3 years) in Kazakhstan. In 2009/2010, 308 children under age 3 years living in 10 Baby Houses were measured for height/length and weight. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development (N. Bayley, 2006) were used to assess mental and motor development. Blood was collected on a subsample to assess key nutritional factors. The World Health Organization growth charts were used to calculate Z-scores. Cut points for wasting (moderate to severe low weight for length/…
This Country Care Review includes the care-related concluding observations on the third and fourth periodic reports of Uzbekistan, adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child at its sixty-third session (27 May–14 June 2013), as well as other care-related concluding observations, ratification dates, and links to the Universal Periodic Review and Hague Intercountry Adoption Country Profile.
In her report to the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Marta Santos Pais, highlights the progress achieved and lessons learned in the implementation of the strategic recommendations of the United Nations study on violence against children and highlights her priorities for the second term of her mandate. The UN Study on VAC recognized that early childhood is a fundamental stage in children’s development, and offers a strategic opportunity to prevent violence and break the cycle of…
Oxford Policy Management has conducted two rounds of qualitative evaluations of three poverty-reduction and human development programmes run by the BOTA Foundation in Kazakhstan: the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Programme, the Social Services Programme and the Tuition Assistance Programme. To evaluate the CCT, Oxford Policy Management also conducted a two-round quantitative survey and has completed a study of costs across all programmes. The studies included a review of BOTA's awareness-raising activities, the application…
A major ministerial conference on ending the placement of children under three in institutional care was held in Sofia, Bulgaria on 21 and 22 November 2012. Organized by the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria in collaboration with UNICEF, it brought together representatives of twenty governments from Eastern Europe and Central Asia, experts from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, international and local NGOs and the academic world to discuss strategies and emerging good practices to support vulnerable families…
A major ministerial conference on ending the placement of children under three in institutional carewas held in Sofia, Bulgaria on 21 and 22 November 2012. Organized by the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria in collaboration with UNICEF, it brought together representatives of twenty governments from Eastern Europe and Central Asia, experts from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, international and local NGOs and the academic world to discuss strategies and emerging good practices to…