Session 1: Overview of Child Rights in Development Cooperation

Regional priorities Key facts

Definitions, international legal framework General Measures of Implementation

Translating international commitments into practice Child-rights based Country Context Analysis

Session map

Child rights refers to: A set of legally binding norms and standards

for the care and protection of children – that apply to all children at all times in all situations

Key treaties: CRC CEDAW CRPD African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of

the Child

What is meant by child rights?

According to the CRC: Children are defined in the CRC as all those below the

age of 18 years. Childhood

Is recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a period “entitled to special care and assistance.”

Definition of a ‘Child’

Non-discrimination

Best interests of the child

Life, survival, and development

Participation

CRC four guiding principles

Survival and development rights Rights to the resources, skills and contributions

necessary for survival and full development Protection rights

Protection from all forms of child abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence

Participation rights Entitled to express their opinions and to have a say in

all matters that affect them

Rights under the CRC

Specific provisions of the Charter relative to the CRC

Emerging priorities based on review of country reports and consultations on the African Common Position on Post-2015

Opportunities for international cooperation in Africa

African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

It is an Obligation Legal and political moral/ethical obligation by national

governments Obligation of international cooperation actors as well

(EU commitments, UNICEF mandate, etc)

It is an Opportunity Necessary for the achievement of development

outcomes

Why take a CR approach?

Translating the CRC commitments into practice1. Legislation must be compatible with the CRC2. Develop process of assessing impact of laws/policies3. Developing a national strategy for children4. Ensuring adequate resources allocations5. Permanent mechanisms in gov’t for M&E6. Training, education & capacity building7. Cooperation/coordination with civil society8. Appropriate indicators and sufficient data collection9. Statutory independent children’s rights institutions

Measures of implementation

Questions & comments

An essential first step to integrating child rights commitments into development cooperation

Accurately identify trends, patterns, incidence and causes of key deprivations

Identify and analyse barriers and bottlenecks

Ensure that the most marginalized and excluded populations are prioritized

Analyse whether evidence-based interventions and services are prioritized in national policies, laws, strategies, plans and budgets

CR-based Country Context Analysis

For policy dialogue Basis for dialogue with partner governments

During project identification Are child rights objectives articulated? Do activities contribute to/challenge existing inequalities? Are there child rights issues not addressed?

During identification & formulation phases Identify entry points for actions needed to meet child rights

objectives During monitoring & evaluation:

Ensure a child rights-sensitive M&E system is in place Establish indicators to measure achievement of objectives

Use of Analysis

Step 1: Review critical resources

CRC Committee’s concluding observations UNICEF situation analysis Reports & analyses from child rights organizations

such as Save the Children Other sources of data

Assess whether additional data is needed Identify data gaps

Steps in undertakingCR-based Country Context Analysis

Step 2: Analyse patterns of social exclusion and identify underlying factors1. Causality analysis

2. Role-pattern analysis

3. Capacity-gap analysis

4. Analysis of the enabling environment

Steps in undertakingCR-based Country Context Analysis

CR-based Country Context Analysis

1. Causality analysis: Asking “Why?”

Development challenge/Rights not fulfilled

Basic /structural causes“Society, Policies, Resources”

Underlying causes“Services, Access, Practices”

Immediate causes“Status, and direct influences”

Manifestation of problem

Immediate

Underlying

Root

Root

Underlying

Root

Root

Immediate

Underlying

Root

Root

Underlying

Root

Root

CR-based Country Context Analysis

Causality Analysis: The Problem Tree

Causes

Effects

The problem tree is a tool for consensus building and participation. It allows discussion with rights-holders and duty bearers on the main development challenges and root causes

The problem tree is a tool for consensus building and participation. It allows discussion with rights-holders and duty bearers on the main development challenges and root causes

Problem 1: increasing HIV/AIDS infection rates

Problem 2: Girls’ Education

→ Immediate Causes

→ Underlying Causes

→ Root Causes

Core Problem Area:Gender Discrimination

Causality Analysis: Identifying Core Problems

Gender discrimination affects the realization of multiple MDGs and their associated rights

Facts of the case As you review the facts of

the case, consider the full range of issues described

In groups, discuss: How would you define the

key problem in this case from a child-rights standpoint?

Causality Analysis: Case example Filipino migrant workers

Review the background scenario with your group Define the problem statement for your case based on

your scenario

Using the cards on your table note down: One immediate cause One underlying cause One root cause

Group activity – Part I

Manifestation of problem

Immediate

Underlying

Root

Root

Underlying

Root

Root

Immediate

Underlying

Root

Root

Underlying

Root

Root

Causality Analysis: Case example Filipino migrant workers

 Problem Statement

Negative impact of economic migration on adolescent well-being in the Philippines.

Immediate Causes

Long-term separation from primary care-giver (mother) Lack of consistent health care and attention Lack of trusted parental guidance Social stigmatization

 

Underlying Causes

  Employment opportunities Feminization of migration (traditionally women’s jobs – nursing, domestic

workers, food and hospitality work) Household income needs beyond immediate family Lack of compensatory support from family and community Lack of special needs programmes in schools Financial crisis (lower remittances)

 

Root/structural Causes

  Reliance on remittances to support GNI Economic growth strategies based on export of skilled and semi-skilled labour Population dynamics – large population of young people seeking high-quality

and high-wage employment Social status of women and women’s labour (exportable)

 

2. Capacity-gap analysis Examines the capacity of key individuals and

institutions responsible for respecting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of children.

3. Role-pattern analysis Delves into the roles and relationships between duty-

bearers and rights holders in relation to specific rights.

CR-based Country Context Analysis

Capacity/Gap & Role-Pattern

Capacity/Gap & Role-Pattern Analysis Example: Filipino migrant workers

Level/type of duty

Role-pattern analysis

Capacity and gap analysis

As defined in relation to the issue at hand and local situation

Who is supposed to do what to help solve the problem?

MotivationDoes the duty-bearer accept the responsibility? If not, why?

AuthorityDoes the duty-bearer have the authority to carry out the role? If not, who does?

ResourcesDoes the duty-bearer have knowledge, skills and organizational, human, financial and materials resources? If not, what is missing?

Knowledge and skills

Organizational and human resources

Financial Resources

Immediate care giver

1. Provide psychosocial support to children left behind;

2. Advocate for their interests with school authorities

No because they may not realize the extent of the suffering of the children

Yes the immediate family is expected to provide all forms of care for the children including psychosocial care

No. Many OFW families do not know how to address children’s feelings of isolation and discrimination

No No. Many families of OFW are substantially dependent on remittances. That said, the social and emotional well-being of children and adolescents left behind may not require substantial financial resources.

Examines broader policy, legal, administrative and budgetary issues and social norms that influence the realization of the human rights of children and women and the reduction of inequalities.

CR-based Country Context Analysis

4. Enabling Environment Analysis

CR-based Country Context AnalysisExample: Enabling environment analysis

Guide for analysis of enabling environmentSocial norms analysis

A social norm is a rule or behaviour that members of a community follow because there are positive social rewards or negative sanctions attached to it. 

Lack of jobs for women at home as a viable economic alternative to migration/ foreign unemployment.

Women’s labour viewed as exportable. Severe gender based occupational segregation.

Policy-gap analysis

Examines the principles and long-term goals that form the basis for making rules and guidelines, giving overall direction to planning and development. 

No systematic data collection on children left behind.

Legislative analysis

Should examine and highlight the degree to which the national legislative framework is compatible with the provisions of the CRC, CEDAW and the CRPD. 

• While export of workers is a policy for the Philippines, there are not sufficient policies to support children left behind and low knowledge of the existing measures in place for support.

Group Activity

Review the background scenario with your group Using the blank forms, work through the different

levels of analysis with your group: Causal analysis, using the problem statement developed

during buzz groups Role-pattern and Capacity-gap analysis Enabling environment analysis

Group activity – Part II