All Children are Protected from Violence, Abuse, Exploitation and Neglect
SCS aims to ensure protection of children from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Marginalized children and those not reached by governmental bodies and CSOs, children in conflict with the law under Palestinian jurisdiction and children detained under the Israeli military system, will be targeted through ensuring their access to professional, peer and community-based psychosocial and legal support with a strong self-empowerment component.
A National Protection Systems (NPS), in charge of protecting all children victims or at risk of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, will be developed and made accessible to all children. Detection, referral and coordination between governmental bodies and CSOs will be built in through community based child protection structures linked to the National Referral System. Child/family protection units within the police will be initiated/strengthened as integral part of the establishment of the NPS and relevant national legislation dealing with child protection discussed.
Child participation and adult support will be mainstreamed throughout the whole strategic plan. Children will act as agents of change in their communities and contribute to influencing duty bearers and public opinion at national and regional levels focusing on child protection issues such as UNVAC follow-up. SCS and partner organizations will establish structures/mechanisms for the active and regular participation of children in all child protection programmes. Partner organisations will act as strong advocates for the right to child protection, gather quality information, perform evidence based and, contribute with relevant models and experiences to empower and support children, and their families and communities.
Save the Children Sweden added value
SCS staff and programmes will contribute to the desired change by coordination and developing the capacity and technical skills of partners and other national and regional CSOs, child rights/protection networks; to ensure the respect of the CRC core principals; and promote and integrate SCS Child Protection Policy and Protocol.
Approaches
SCS will implement its child protection interventions through a combination of approaches derived from the four working methods stipulated in the Compass:
Research: Documentation of tested models of child protection systems and regular data collection and analysis with focus on disaggregated data.
Evidence Based Advocacy: SCS and its partners will be proactive in organizing forums to engage duty bearers and actively participate in all relevant forums organized at national and/or regional levels to discuss general or specific child protection issues.
Capacity building and awareness raising: Institutional capacity development is very important for NGO monitoring and reporting roles including child-led organizations and groups. Relevant knowledge and skills to actively participate in the decision making process will be a key issue. Community members and child rights advocates will also be targeted to ensure that child protection is mainstreamed in all sectors of society.
Direct support: a holistic approach to child protection foreseeing the direct involvement of governmental bodies, CSOs and other relevant stakeholders. Duty-bearers will be supported to become accountable towards children, communities involved directly for the protection of children, governmental bodies supported to strengthen existing resources and CSOs involved and empowered to better support children through a coordinated work.