text:
187 Resources Found
Handbook on Children Recruited and Exploited by Terrorist and Violent Extremist Groups: The Role of the Justice System
26 January 2018
This handbook is designed for national authorities and provides guidance on the treatment of children recruited and exploited by terrorist and violent extremist groups, with emphasis on the role of the justice system. The main objectives of the handbook are to prevent the recruitment of children, identify effective justice responses to these children, and promote their rehabilitation and reintegration. The target audience is both law and policymakers who design policies of prevention and treatment as well as practitioners dealing directly with children in these contexts.
Listening to Young Voices: A Guide to Interviewing Children and Young People in Truth Seeking and Documentation Efforts
1 January 2018
This protocol provides guidance for interviewing children who have expressed a desire to participate in truth-seeking and documentation efforts, outlining protection principles, inquiry strategies, and behavioral guidelines for interacting with children. Created with a child-centered approach, the protocol is intended to increase the effectiveness of the response to violations committed against children in armed conflict. Available in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish.
Implementing the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
26 September 2017
These guidelines were created for national legislators, policy makers, and other accountability stakeholders who would benefit from learning about the different approaches States may have for the domestic implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The purpose of this tool is to enable the reader to identify the appropriate method for incorporating international crime provisions into domestic legislation, address associated challenges, understand the core components that must be implemented, and guide national legislators through the implementation process. Section 12 (p.111-115) contains a helpful implementation checklist outlining the guiding principles which can be tailored to each State's priorities and individual concerns.
Practical Guide to Foster Community Acceptance of Girls Associated with Armed Groups in DR Congo
19 June 2017
This Guide provides best practice measures for engaging girls formerly associated with armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who are often under-represented in disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs. Based on workshops conducted with child protection officials, UN agencies, government agents, and NGOs, it proposes interventions to respond to girl soldiers' specific needs and experiences. This guide focuses on solutions which are inexpensive and community based, making them applicable in various contexts. Originally published in French, the first version can be accessed at: https://www.child-soldiers.org/shop/rsum-du-guide-pratique-pour-promouvoir-lacceptation-communautaire
International Criminal Law Guidelines on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Crimes
1 June 2017
These Guidelines aim to support the application of accountability initiatives by providing a concise overview of the legal requirements of seven underlying acts of sexual and gender-based violence crimes (SGBV) proscribed under the ICC Statute: rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilisation, other forms of sexual violence and genocide by measures intended to prevent births. The Guidelines are directed to practitioners who wish to familiarise themselves with the legal requirements of SGBV crimes under international criminal law. Emblematic international case law as well as commentaries of independent human rights experts and leading publicists that address the seven SGBV crimes under the International Criminal Court Statute are reviewed.
Implementing the Guidelines - A Toolkit to guide understanding and implementation of the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military use During Armed Conflict
28 March 2017
This Toolkit is based upon the "Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict" and designed to assist national Ministries of Defense, military trainers, officers and soldiers, and their equivalent for non-state armed groups, involved in the planning and conduct of military operations. The Toolkit includes training materials, and guidance for planning and executing military operations to assist with decisions about the use and targeting of institutions dedicated to education. It can also support peace operations ranging from the deployment of individual and small numbers of unarmed military observers, through individual and formed police units, to battlegroup and battalion sized military units.
Addressing the Gaps in Security Sector Training: The Detention of Child Soldiers
1 March 2017
This chapter (p.389-402) in the book "Protecting Children against Torture in Detention: Global Solutions for a Global Problem" published by the Anti-Torture Initiative at the Washington College of Law explores the unique role of child soldiers as children, victims, and as soldiers which each must be considered in the comprehensive response of security sector actors in their demobilization and protection. Case studies of child soldiers detained as security threats and violations they experience including torture, ill-treatment, and arbitrary detention highlight the urgent need for better training in the security sector. Recommendations for the training of security sector actors on child soldiers includes to frame trainings in the overall prevention of child soldiers, pre-deployment training for confrontation with child soldiers, and the inclusion of specific child protection concerns in line with the 'best interests of the child' principle.
International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict: Best Practice on the Documentation of Sexual Violence as a Crime or Violation of International Law [Second Edition]
1 March 2017
This resource contains guidelines for the best practice of documenting and investigating sexual violence as a crime under international law. It is designed to assist human rights practitioners, international and national authorities, civil society, and investigators with practical guidance on managing risks, collecting and handling evidence, and addressing trauma. Chapter Sixteen (p.244-262) is dedicated to sexual violence against children, including the legal framework, ethical considerations, and guidance on engaging child witnesses and survivors. The first edition of the resource can be found on the same page in various languages including English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Serbo-Croatian, Farsi, Burmese, Albanian, and Swahili.
Policy on Children
1 November 2016
The International Criminal Court Office of the Prosecutor recognizes that most crimes under the Statute affect children in various ways, and that at times they are specifically targeted. The Office engages with children in various contexts and circumstances, notably children who are witnesses and those whose parents or caregivers have agreed to testify before the Court. In these interactions, the Office will consider the best interests, rights and well-being of children who are directly impacted by its activities. The Office will strive to ensure that its activities do no harm to the children with whom it interacts. The Office will adopt a child-sensitive approach in all aspects of its work involving children. This policy guides applying this approach.
Checklist for Drafting Children and Armed Conflict Provisions in Ceasefire and Peace Agreements
31 October 2016
This checklist for mediators and those involved in negotiating peace terms will assist in ensuring that child protection is represented in the language of peace agreements. Acknowledging the significance of incorporating children early on in the peace process, this source provides guidance on the effective release and reintegration of child soldiers and integrating the six grave violations against children during armed conflict into transitional justice mechanisms to end impunity and ensure children's access to justice. It also outlines the role of former child soldiers in the transition to peace as primarily victims who must be reintegrated into society with long-term support rather than other armed group members who may be integrated into the regular armed forces.
Supporting reconciliation in post-conflict situations
2 October 2016
This report covers several approaches to supporting reconciliation in post-conflict contexts. Designed as an e-learning document, the report provides general information about a variety of approaches, pros and cons of said approaches, indications of what roles donors can play, and covers Islamic reconciliation modalities available.
Handbook on Complementarity- An Introduction to the Role of National Courts and the ICC in Prosecuting International Crimes
22 July 2016
This Handbook is intended to explain the main issues of law and practice related to complementarity for those who are not legal specialists. It is aimed at organizations and individuals that are not specicalists on the International Criminal Court or criminal law issues. It supports those who want to understand the basic legal issues as well as the broader contextual matters connected to complementarity by explaining how the complementarity regime works. After reading this handbook, readers should have a basic understanding of the ICC, the concept of complementarity, how key cases on the issue have been decided, what the different stages of the admissibility process entail, what it means for national legal systems, and what it means for other national actors, including civil society and victims' representatives. Case studies include the following countries: Afghanistan, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and Libya. This resource is also available in French.
Reducing Risk, Strengthening Resilience: Toward the Structural Prevention of Atrocity Crimes
1 April 2016
This is a policy brief that outlines how to apply structural prevention of atrocity crimes, particularly at the national and local level. The recommendations intend to assist actors to reduce the occurrence of risk factors of atrocities and increase societal resilience. Particular to addressing serious violations against children in armed conflict, this brief includes rule of law, accountability, and commitment to guarantees of non-recurrence of violations as key to prevention and resilience. Also recommended is reforming legal and judicial systems for greater accountability and ensuring the legal empowerment of marginalized communities.
The Role of the Education Cluster in Monitoring, Reporting and Responding to Attacks on Education – Mapping of Perspectives and Practices
April 2016
Attacks on education and the military use of schools are a major challenge to education provision in conflict-affected countries. In recent years, Education Clusters and Education in Emergencies Working Groups have been increasingly engaged in monitoring, reporting and responding to attacks on education and the military use of schools and using this as a basis for advocacy, prevention and response consistent with the cluster mandate of ensuring a timely and effective education response. This report aims to capture a range of perspectives on the Education Cluster's role at the global and national levels, and to map the current Education Cluster practices, including the main challenges and lessons learned. The Education Cluster's role includes contributing to the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) as a means to support accountability and higher level actions and political advocacy alongside cluster monitoring and reporting of attacks on education.
Age Assessment Guidelines to Prevent and Respond to Child Recruitment in the Afghanistan National Security Forces
15 February 2016
These are guidelines from the Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF). The document describes an age assessment process to prevent enlisting underage members into the national armed forceswhen identity documents are not available. Prepared by experts, practitioners, military officials, and UNICEF, these principles suggest an assessment based on five components including direct interviews with the individual, interviews with family and community members, crosschecking of all available information, documentation, and referral to services and reintegration. Child sensitive age assessment techniques are provided operating within international human rights obligations. This document and annexed checklists are applicable to both national armed forces and armed groups in order to ensure the enforcement of the international humanitarian law obligation to prevent the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to reform the recruitment process to prevent the violation before it happens. This resource is available in both English and Dari.
A Guide to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Legal Protection in Acute Emergencies
1 January 2016
War Child Canada recognized an absence of independently evaluated and documented best practices in the legal protection sector. This guide outlines what works for survivor- centered sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) legal protection services in emergency settings, based on War Child Canada's field practice, evidence and learning. While this guide is based on the learning from one specific environment – Northern Uganda immediately after the influx of South Sudanese refugees – it provides considerations and recommendations for contextualization to different contexts and regions
Child Protection in Emergencies: Coordination Handbook
1 January 2016
The purpose of this Handbook is to provide actors with guidance on how to coordinate child protection responses in humanitarian contexts in order to ensure more predictable, accountable and effective child protection responses in emergencies around the world. This Handbook is designed for situations where the international community is formally engaged with the humanitarian response and where the cluster system has been activated, and may be useful for contexts where there is no cluster approach. Chapter 8 "Monitoring and reporting grave violations of children's rights" on page 116 covers accountability for violations against children in armed conflict.
Handbook on Civil Society Documentation of Serious Human Rights Violations
1 January 2016
The purpose of this Handbook is to provide guidelines and best practices for the collection and management of information on serious human rights situations for civil society actors who are not professionally trained in such documentation practices. While the Handbook strongly emphasizes the need to for civil society to leave the work to professionals, practice shows that this is not always possible and as a last resort civil society actors may consider engaging in some documentation practices and not in others. The Handbook offers guidance on ethical principles and documentation to prevent/mitigate harm, identify security risks, preserve crime scenes, prevent the loss of evidence, and manage the information in manner that preserves confidentiality, security and probative value, with an eye to possible use in later redress processes and without jeopardizing the future work of professionally trained and officially appointed investigators.
Accountability and Reconciliation in Peace Processes
31 December 2015
Through international case studies and analysis of different methods, this paper examines the range of measures that may help societies to achieve accountability and reconciliation, and explores the challenges faced in this field. Successful accountability measures draw on a critical understanding of experience from elsewhere, carefully adapted to the social, political and cultural context and questions of feasibility. This Handbook includes recommendations on making provisions for accountability and reconciliation in peace negotiations and methods for accountability and reconciliation, with case studies from Northern Ireland, Cambodia, and Rwanda.
Anti-Impunity Tool: Guidance for Investigating and Prosecuting Serious Violations against Children in Armed Conflict
11 December 2015
The Anti-impunity Tool: Guidance for Investigating and Prosecuting Serious Violations against Children in Armed Conflict (CAC Anti-Impunity Tool) is a practical guide to assist national judicial actors to investigate, prosecute, and try serious violations committed against children in armed conflict (CAC). It is also a resource for child protection and child rights actors (CPAs) on how to support efforts to end impunity for these violations. Conflict Dynamics International has designed this Tool to support national efforts to investigate and prosecute CAC violations alongside the 2015 Children in Armed Conflict Accountability Framework (CAC Accountability Framework), which supports prevention and remedy of serious violations of international law committed against children in armed conflict.
Guide pratique anti-impunité : Comment enquêter et intenter des poursuites judiciaires en cas de violations graves commises contre des enfants pendant les conflits armés
11 December 2015
Le Guide pratique anti-impunité : Comment enquêter et intenter des poursuites judiciaires en cas de violations graves commises contre des enfants pendant les conflits armés (en abrégé, le Guide pratique anti-impunité ECA) est censé aider les appareils judiciaires nationaux à instruire les cas de ce genre. Le guide est également censé aider les acteurs de la protection de l'enfance et en défense des droits de l'enfant à promouvoir la lutte contre l'impunité de ceux qui violent ces droits.
Education and Transitional Justice: Opportunities and Challenges for Peacebuilding
16 November 2015
This report, part of a joint research project by ICTJ and UNICEF on the intersections of education, transitional justice, and peacebuilding, explores how a transitional justice framework can help to identify educational deficits relating to the logic of past conflict and/or repression and inform the reconstruction of the education sector. Drawing on comparative experiences from around the world, it looks at how formal and informal education can help facilitate the work of transitional justice measures and vice versa. Page 35 begins practical recommendations for Transitional Justice practitioners, policymakers, civil society actors, education practitioners, policymakers, and donors. For more on the project, visit the project webpage: https://www.ictj.org/our-work/research/education-peacebuilding
Case Example: Colombia
7 October 2015
This case example is a complementary resource to the "Children in Armed Conflict Accountability Framework". It demonstrates the practical application of the Framework in Colombia. This is the second in a series of case examples by Conflict Dynamics International to demonstrate how individuals and organizations working in child protection, justice, peacebuilding, and other fields can apply the CAC Accountability Framework in a specific context. The information presented in this case example is intended to illustrate the practical application of the Framework in the context of Colombia. It is not intended to provide a comprehensive review of the state of accountability for serious violations of international law committed against children in armed conflict in Colombia. This tool is also available in Spanish in this database and on the webpage above "CAC Accountability Framework".
Ejemplo de caso: Colombia
7 October 2015
Este ejemplo de caso es un recurso complementario del "Marco de Rendición de Cuentas frente a los Niños, las Niñas y los Jóvenes Afectados por los Conflictos Armados: Un marco para la promoción de la rendición de cuentas a las violaciones graves cometidas contra los niños, las niñas y los jóvenes afectados por los conflictos armados" ("Marco de Rendición de Cuentas sobre NNJ"), que muestra la aplicación práctica del Marco de Rendición de Cuentas sobre NNJ en Colombia. Ésta es la segunda de las series de ejemplos de casos por la Conflict Dynamics International que muestra cómo las personas y las organizaciones trabajan en la protección de la niñez y la juventud, la justicia, la consolidación de la paz, y otros campo pueden aplicar al Marco de Rendición de Cuentas sobre NNJ en un contexto específico.
Case Example: Democratic Republic of the Congo
9 June 2015
This case example is a complementary resource to the "Children in Armed Conflict Accountability Framework". It demonstrates the practical application of the Framework in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This is the first in a series of case examples by Conflict Dynamics International to demonstrate how individuals and organizations working in child protection, justice, peacebuilding, and other fields can apply the CAC Accountability Framework in a specific context. This tool is also available in French in this database and on the webpage above "CAC Accountability Framework".
Exemple de cas : République démocratique du Congo
9 June 2015
Cet exemple de cas constitue un complément au «Cadre relatif à l'obligation redditionnelle afférente aux enfants dans les conflits armés : Un Cadre pour la promotion de l'obligation redditionnelle pour violations graves commises contre les enfants en période de conflit armé (ECA) » (« Le Cadre relatif à l'obligation redditionnelle ECA »). Il présente l'application pratique du Cadre relatif à l'obligationredditionnelle ECA en République démocratique du Congo (RDC). Il s'agit de la première d'une série d'exemples de cas réalisées par Conflict Dynamics International afin d'illustrer la façon dont les personnes et les organisations travaillant dans les secteurs de la protection de l'enfant, la justice, la consolidation de la paix et autres domaines peuvent appliquer le Cadre relatif à l'obligation redditionnelle ECA dans un contexte précis.
Enforced Disappearance and Extrajudicial Execution: Investigation and Sanction (A Practitioners Guide)
1 March 2015
This resource supports investigating and punishing crimes of enforced disappearance and extrajudicial execution. It is based off a series of seminars and includes the perspectives of judges, prosecutors, non-governmental organizations, local authorities, journalists, and human rights practitioners. In addition to contextualizing both crimes under international law and in armed conflict, the resource includes guidance for investigation, using forensic science, and identifying direct and indirect victims of enforced disappearance. It discusses three specific situations (p.48-56) in which children are considered victims of enforced disappearance: when subject to enforced disappearance; when born during the captivity of a mother subjected to enforced disappearance; and when a parent, legal guardian, or other relative is subject to enforced disappearance. This resource was written in Spanish and translated to English, and is available in both languages.
Children in Armed Conflict Accountability Framework: A Framework for Advancing Accountability for Serious Violations against Children in Armed Conflict
This Framework is a practical resource that promotes accountability for serious violations of international law committed against children in armed conflict (CAC). It responds to the significant gap that exists in preventing and remedying these serious violations - and is designed to assist policymakers and practitioners working at all levels to bridge this gap. It provides individuals and organizations working in child protection, justice, peacebuilding, and related fields with a comprehensive definition and structure for understanding CAC accountability and practical guidance for developing well-informed, context-specific, and feasible options for advancing CAC accountability.
Marco de Rendición de Cuentas frente a los niños, las niñas y los jóvenes afectados por los conflictos armados
This resource is the Spanish version of the "Children in Armed Conflict Accountability Framework." El Marco de Rendición de Cuentas frente a los niños, las niñas y los jóvenes afectados por los conflictos armados es un recurso práctico que promueve mecanismos para abordar casos de violaciones graves derecho internacional cometidas contra los niños, las niñas y los jóvenes en situaciones de conflicto armado (rendición de cuentas sobre NNJ). Elaborado como respuesta al importante vacío existente en materia de prevención y reparación de este tipo de violaciones, este Marco aporta los siguientes elementos: 1. una definición completa y estructura para entender la cuestión de la rendición de cuentas sobre NNJ; 2. orientaciones metodológicas prácticas que pueden ser adaptadas y aplicadas en diferentes contextos con el objeto de aumentar las acciones de rendición de cuentas sobre NNJ.
The 1612 Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism: A Resource Pack for NGOs
This resource provides an overview of the UN's Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM), which documents the six grave violations perpetrated against children in situations of armed conflict. It aims to provide tools for non-governmental organizations participating in the MRM to mainstream their engagement. Tools include guiding questions, checklists, self-assessments and sample language. The resource also considers case studies from the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Colombia.
The Long Road: Accountability for Sexual Violence in Conflict and Post-Conflict Settings
Researchers at the Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, conducted a four-country study in Kenya, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda to identify key accountability barriers and strategies for reporting, investigating, and prosecuting cases of sexual violence. The resulting 279 interviews identified key themes related to the reporting, investigation, and prosecution of cases of sexual violence for domestic accountability for sexual violence committed as an international crime. Recommendations for domestic actors from across health, legal, judicial, and community sectors are included to address survivors' claims of sexual violence both during and after periods of armed conflict and other emergencies, with specific mention of children's particular needs within legal processes.
Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict
December 2014
In response to the use of schools and universities by parties to armed conflict, this resource establishes six guidelines to protect schools and universities. These guidelines are intended to assist actors planning military operations and organizations monitoring armed conflict. The annexes include the international legal framework and examples of domestic law and practices.
Child Soldiers: A Handbook for Security Sector Actors
1 September 2014
The Roméo Dallaire Initiative's landmark publication, Child Soldiers: A Handbook for Security Sector Actors aims to highlight and reinforce the various roles that security sector actors (i.e. military, police, prison personnel and peacekeepers) can play in protecting all children affected by war. Pages 68-76 cover security sector actors' roles in supporting monitoring and reporting serious violations against children in armed conflict. This Handbook is available in French and English.
Communication and Report Drafting in Monitoring, Reporting, and Fact-finding Mechanisms
1 July 2014
This report addresses how, when and to what extent monitoring, reporting, and fact-finding missions finding (MRF) missions mandated to investigate alleged violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law should engage in public communication. MRFs face a tension between the contrasting needs for confidentiality and public communication. Similar challenges surround the process of drafting reports. This paper examines how MRF practitioners have responded to these challenges to provide lessons learned.
International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict: Basic Standards of Best Practices on the Documentation of Sexual Violence as a Crime under International Law
11 June 2014
This resource lays out the basic principles for the documentation of sexual violence as a crime under international law. Human rights and justice practitioners, as well as national and local security, judicial, law enforcement and investigative institutions may use these guidelines to establish an investigation and documentation process, conduct interviews, and manage evidence. Page 42 provides guidance on identifying child survivors and witnesses. Page 59 provides instruction on interviewing children.
Field Manual: Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on Grave Violations Against Children in Situations of Armed Conflict
June 2014
This resource is intended for practitioners implementing the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) and covers technical components of the MRM. It considers issues such as guiding principles, monitoring, information management, reporting, and engaging with parties to the conflict, as well as guidance on both establishing and phasing out the MRM. The annexes include action plan templates, listing and delisting criteria, and the international legal foundations. This field manual is part of the MRM Tools website, which also includes the MRM Guidelines, Training Toolkit, and Global Good Practices Study.
Guidelines: Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on Grave Violations against Children in Situations of Armed Conflict
June 2014
This resource describes the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) and its efforts to achieve accountability and compliance with international law and child protection standards. Intended for practitioners implementing the MRM, this resource outlines the roles and responsibilities for implementing actors, reporting requirements, and linkages between the MRM and response and advocacy. These guidelines are part of the MRM Tools website, which also includes the MRM Field Manual, Training Toolkit, and Global Good Practices Study.
Protect Schools and Hospitals: Guidance Note on Security Council Resolution 1998
May 2014
This resource is intended to provide practical guidance for UN and NGO partners in the field implementing Security Council Resolution 1998 (2011), which prohibits attacks on schools and hospitals. This resource aims to strengthen monitoring and reporting on attacks on schools and hospitals by providing guidance on monitoring and reporting, advocacy, and partnerships. This resource is intended to complement the MRM Field Manual and MRM Guidelines.
Establishing a Vetting Mechanism for the Security Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo
April 2014
The 2013 benchmarks of the national follow-up mechanisms for the Peace, Stability and Cooperation Framework Agreement for Congo and the Region included the establishment of a vetting mechanism. This resource describes how such a mechanism could work in the DRC context and how it differs from the human rights screening process of MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission.
Guiding Principles on Young People's Participation in Peacebuilding
April 2014
This resource lists 9 principles for youth participation in peacebuilding. Principles include promoting young people's participation for successful peacebuilding, valuing young people's diversity and experiences, being sensitive to gender dynamics, involving young people in all stages of peacebuilding and post-conflict programming.
Core Competencies for Security Sector Training on the Prevention of the Use of Child Soldiers
March 2014
The Dallaire Initiative partnered with The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to develop a set of Core Competencies for all security sector training related to child soldiers. The document also provides an overview of the international legal framework relating to the protection of children in armed conflict.
Protection of Witnesses, Victims and Staff in Monitoring, Reporting, and Fact-Finding Mechanisms
7 February 2014
One dilemma that practitioners face in serving on monitoring, reporting, and fact-finding (MRF) missions concerns the protection of witnesses, victims, and staff. Witnesses' and victims' statements account for the predominant evidence when investigating human rights violations, but in coming forward they put themselves at risk. MRF missions' staff also face security risks. Additionally, the ad hoc nature of such missions is in contrast with the need to ensure protection on a long-term scale. This paper analyzes how past MRF missions have grappled with these risks and measures that can be taken by MRF professionals to mitigate them.
Protection Checklist - Addressing Displacement and Protection of Displaced Populations and Affected Communities along the Conflict Cycle: a Collaborative Approach
February 2014
The checklist is intended to provide guidance and increase understanding for OSCE field staff and other OSCE actors working on displacement and protection in the conflict cycle. Throughout the resource, consideration is given to children in conflict and displacement. Stages in the conflict cycle include early warning and prevention, crisis management in acute conflict, conflict management in protracted conflict, and post-conflict transition and rehabilitation.
Best Practices Manual for the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Violence Crimes in Post-Conflict Regions: Lessons learned from the Office of the Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
30 January 2014
This resource shares lessons learned and best practices from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and outlines the need for a global strategy to deal with the investigation and prosecution of sexual violence crimes. It recognizes that sexual violence is committed against women, men, and children. It examines the investigation phase, pre-trial and trial phase, and appeal and post-trial phase. Annex D provides an example investigation work plan. Annex E provides an interview checklist.
Child Protection Issue Brief: Sexual violence against children
January 2014
This resource outlines what the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its partners should do to protect children from sexual violence. Action areas include legal and policy framework; knowledge and data; coordination; human and financial capacity; advocacy and awareness; and prevention and response.
Child protection Issue Brief: Alternative Care
January 2014
This resource outlines what UNHCR and its partners should do regarding alternative care programs for children. Action areas include legal and policy framework; knowledge and data; coordination; human and financial capacity; advocacy and awareness; and prevention and response.
The Role of Communities in Protecting Education from Attack: Lessons Learned
This resource lays out guidelines for implementing programs that protect education from attack. Included is a 10-step guideline for working in collaboration with local communities, examples for various case studies around the world, and strategies for staffing, working with local partners, and using child participation. The document uses Cote d'Ivoire as a case study of how communities worked with UN agencies and international NGOs and presents key findings.
Global Good Practices Study: Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on Grave Violations against Children in Situations of Armed Conflict
November 2013
This resource examines lessons learned and good practices from the field. Developed by MRM task-force co-chairs and child protection practitioners, this resource considers issues such as establishing and phasing out the MRM, monitoring and reporting grave violations, information management systems, accountability, engaging parties to the conflict, advocacy, regional cooperation, and child participation. This study is part of the MRM Tools website, which also includes the MRM Guidelines, Training Toolkit, and Global Good Practices Study.
Protecting children in armed conflict: key rules from Geneva Call's Deed of Commitment
November 2013
Designed as a training booklet, this resource provides twelve key rules from Geneva Call's Deed of Commitment in an accessible visual format. Rules include the prohibition of the use of children in combat or combat-related activities, prohibition against forcing children to associate with armed forces, prohibition against recruitment, and sanctioning violations in accordance with international standards.
Education and the Law of Reparations in Insecurity and Armed Conflict
October 2013
With a focus on reparations, this resource examines how attacks against education during insecurity and armed conflict have previously been redressed and how they may be redressed in the future. It considers education as a form of reparation and explores how education may minimize the risk of future conflict. The appendix includes international and regional treaties, as well as relevant cases.
Annex XVII: Model legislative provisions on the recruitment or use of children in armed conflict
23 May 2013
Part of the Manual on Domestic Implementation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), this resource provides two possible model legislative provisions intended to guide States in the drafting of legislation which prohibits the recruitment or use of children in armed conflict. The first model text uses the "straight 18" approach while the second text follows existing provisions in treaty and customary law. This resource provides commentary on the models, as well as sources from international law, national legislation, and other practice.
A Checklist for Mainstreaming: Children and Armed Conflict Friendly Resolutions
March 2013
This resource provides a ten-point checklist to assist Security Council experts and others in mainstreaming the protection of children affected by armed conflict in country-specific Security Council resolutions. This list includes encouraging the implementation of action plans, using sanctions to pressure perpetrators, demanding accountability, and encouraging DDRRR (disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, reintegration and resettlement). This resource also contains a compilation of Security Council Resolutions on Children and Armed Conflict approved by the UN.
Child Protection Model Law, Best Practices: Protection of Children from Neglect, Abuse, Maltreatment, and Exploitation
January 2013
Citing 130 domestic laws from 68 countries, this resource provides models laws on child protection, including protection of children in situations of emergency and armed conflict, for legislators drafting or amending child protection laws. These model laws are based upon international standards and best practices on child protection, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Optional Protocol to the CRC on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC).
100 Best Practices in Child Protection
A collection of successful initiatives by civil society organizations and government agencies, this resource provides examples of initiatives aimed at child protection. Part VI on page 90 examines child protection initiatives in situations of emergency and armed conflict, with examples from Iraq, Uganda, Gaza, Liberia, and Rwanda. Part VII on page 100 provides examples of child protection initiatives in the justice system.
The Kampala Recommendations on the recovery and reintegration of children and youth affected by armed conflict
During the Kampala Conference from 25-27 September 2013, guidelines were launched on recovery and reintegration programming for child and youth affected by armed conflict. The Kampala Recommendations were drafted in consultation with experts from transitional justice, human rights, education, child rights, and youth from Uganda and Colombia.
Engaging Children and Youth in Transitional Justice Processes: Guidance for Outreach Programs
November 2012
This resource examines including children and youth in outreach programming for transitional justice measures. It provides components and structural approaches to planning outreach programs and addresses issues such as security and protection, psychosocial support, and coordination with external actors. The appendix includes a sample image release form and UNICEF Principles for Ethical Reporting on Children.
Lessons in War: Military Use of Schools and other Education Institutions during Conflict
November 2012
This resource outlines the military use of education institutions and the consequences of such use on students, teachers, and scholars. It includes an overview a list of initiatives to address armed forces' and armed groups' use of education institutions, including the UN Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism, Committee of the Rights of the Child, and voluntary commitments by non-state armed groups. It also provides relevant laws restricting the use of education institutions by armed forces and groups.
The Impact of Armed Conflict on Children
November 2012
This resource is intended to provide training to armed non-state groups and civil society organizations on humanitarian standards and the relevant international legal framework regarding children and armed conflict. In an addition to providing an overview of key international laws and policies, this resource also explains the structure of Geneva Call's Deed of Commitment on Children and Armed Conflict and explores implementation measures to improve child protection.
Protecting Education in Countries Affected by Conflict: Legal Accountability and the Duty to Protect (Booklet 2)
31 August 2012
This booklet covers legal accountability and the duty to protect. Explaining how and why attacks on education violate international law and have serious long-term consequences, this booklet gives an overview of the problem, potential responses, and guidelines to train others to protect education. This booklet is part of a series providing guidance and resources for field practitioners on critical protection-related issues. The booklets should be used alongside the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies "Minimum Standards for Education: Preparedness, Response, Recovery." The compendium of booklets is available here: http://reliefweb.int/report/world/protecting-education-countries-affected-armed-conflict
Listen and Learn: Participatory Assessment with Children and Adolescents
July 2012
This resource outlines an ethical approach to participatory assessment with refugee children and adolescents and provides guidelines on conducting participatory workshop. Part of UNHCR's tool for participatory assessment in operations, it was developed to provide guidance on suitable ways to specifically engage with girls and boys. Included are several participatory workshop methods, a participation and protection checklist, and sample activities.
Submission on the principles to be applied, and the procedure to be followed by the chamber with regard to reparations
10 May 2012
This resource contains UNICEF's submission to the International Criminal Court in the prosecution against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The document contains UNICEF's recommendations for the principles and criteria that should guide the ICC's decisions to awarding reparations.
Ten Steps to Setting Up Complaints and Response Mechanisms
8 March 2012
This short video is intended to share steps to establishing complaints and response mechanism (CRM). It features the Complaints and Response Mechanisms (CRM) Pilot in Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya in 2011. Complaints handling is part of the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) Standard for accountability and quality management.
A Framework for the Protection of Children
This resource provides an overview of UNHCR's policies and practice regarding child protection and shares UNHCR's guiding principles and approaches. It articulates UNHCR's six goals regarding the rights of children and relevant benchmarks. The annex includes UNHCR's policy framework for the protection of children.
Informal Justice Systems: Charting a Course for Human Rights-Based Engagement
This resource explores how informal justice systems and programs that include such systems can promote respect for human rights. It provides an overview of issues that international development and justice actors should consider before involvement informal justice mechanisms. This resource considers the place of children's rights and women's rights within informal justice systems.
Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action
This resource aims to establish common principles amongst child protection actors. It provides guidance on strengthening coordination, improving the quality of programming, and improving accountability within child protection work. Standard 11 on page 102 examines children associated with armed forces or armed groups and provides key actions, measurements, and guidance notes on advocacy, awareness, prevention, release, identification and verification, interim care, family tracing and reunification, reintegration, and family reunification. Standard 14 on page 128 discusses justice for children and provides key actions and measurement indicators.
Summary of ICTJ's Recommendations to the ICC on Reparations in the Lubanga Case
This resource summarizes the ICTJ's submission to the International Criminal Court (ICC) giving recommendations on reparations to victims in the Lubanga case. Recommendations included: ensuring information and access to justice for victims; holding reparations hearings within the Democratic Republic of the Congo; designing a combination of compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and symbolic reparations depending on the category of victim; conducting needs assessment and gender analysis; involving communities; and ensuring perpetrators pay reparations.
Working with Men and Boy Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Forced Displacement
Intended to emphasize programs on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) that include men and boys, this resource provides guidance on accessing survivors, providing protection, and delivering medical, legal, and social services. It contains key considerations for inclusive SGBV programming and a list of key resources.
Study on Field-based Programmatic Measures to Protect Education from Attack
December 2011
This resource outlines types of programmatic measures to protect education from attack under four headings: protection, prevention, advocacy, and monitoring and reporting. Attacks against education include attacks against students, educators, and other educational personnel at educational institutions. Recommended programmatic measures range from local initiatives to systemic-level interventions intended to prevent conflict. The annex includes 20 country-specific examples.
Field Handbook for the Implementation of UNHCR BID Guidelines
November 2011
This resource serves as a compliment to the 2008 UNHCR Guidelines for Determining the Best Interests of the Child. It provides an overview of the international and national legal frameworks and places determination of best interest within a child protection framework. It also explains the process for determining the best interests of the child and includes guidance on principles and procedures for communicating with and interviewing children.
Guiding Principles for the Domestic Implementation of a Comprehensive System of Protection for Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed Groups
15 September 2011
This resource aims to clarify existing obligations of State parties, facilitate respect for existing obligations, and promote the implementation of relevant legal provisions. It contains recommendations by the ICRC for practical, regulatory, and legal measures to promote the effective domestic implementation of international rules to protect children affected by armed conflict. This resource considers specific issues such as recruitment, juvenile justice, preventative measures, reparations, transitional justice, and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs.
Child Protection in United Nations Peacekeeping
September 2011
This resource highlights the role of child protection and child protection advisers in UN peace operations. It examines child protection in the contexts of Afghanistan, Lebanon, Haiti, and the Sudan. Page 17 answers questions about the role and function of child protection in UN peacekeeping.
Children and Justice During and in the Aftermath of Armed Conflict
September 2011
This resource supports advocacy initiatives aimed at strengthening States' protection of children's rights and best interests during and after armed conflict. It examines children as victims and witnesses in judicial processes such as courts and tribunals, and in non-judicial processes such as truth and reconciliation commissions and traditional and restorative justice mechanisms. This report also looks at the concepts of reparations and reintegration. It uses the international legal framework and case studies to create recommendations for States, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and child protection actors.
Through a New Lens: A Child-Sensitive Approach to Transitional Justice
September 2011
Based on assessments of Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, and Nepal, this resource examines the ways in which transitional justice can engage children and consider their needs. It assesses the extent to which truth-seeking mechanisms, criminal justice, reparations, and institutional reform have raised awareness about the victimization of children.
Bridging the Accountability Gap: New Approaches to Addressing Violations Against Children in Armed Conflict
June 2011
This resource examines the accountability gap for violations committed against children in situations of armed conflict. It evaluates actions to attain accountability through efforts at the national level, UN Security Council, and international level. The report provides several policy options to address the accountability gap and features case studies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Colombia.
Workshop report: Children affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence
14 March 2011
This resource represents the thinking of the International Movement for the Red Cross on building bridges between practitioners from various contexts and areas of expertise. This resource identifies priorities for action and recommendations for better coordination across the Movement and focuses on themes such as reintegration, psychosocial approach, violence prevention in urban violence, and cross-cutting issues such as youth participation.
Economic Reintegration of Children Formerly Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups
This resource examines the economic reintegration of children and youth formerly associated with armed forces or armed groups. It includes an overview of the legislative and policy framework, challenges to reintegration, lessons learned, and a review of ILO's work on the economic reintegration of children, including vocational skills training.
Guide for setting-up Child Friendly Complaints and Response Mechanisms (CRMs): Lessons Learnt from Save the Children's CRM in Dadaab Refugee Camp
This resource provides guidance on creating a complaints and response mechanism (CRM) in a child-friendly manner. Using a pilot case study from Ifo Camp, Dabaab, North Eastern Kenya, this resource provides information on setting up a CRM, awareness raising, recording complaints, challenges, and lessons learned. The annex includes a stakeholder mapping tools used during their consultations with children.
Guidelines on Action for Children in the Justice System in Africa
Intended for African governments, this resource aims to provide guidance on implementing African Union (AU) and other regional and international treaty bodies. The guidelines include a set of overarching principles, general measures of implementation, an overview of child friendly justice, fair trial rights for children in conflict with the law and for child victims and witnesses, and alternative care proceedings. This resource also discusses traditional justice and provides minimum standards for traditional courts.
Keeping Children Safe Toolkit: A Toolkit for child protection
Comprising of five tools, this resource is intended for international NGOs, international organizations, government partners, or other organizations that require child protection measures. Tool 1 describes protection standards; tool 2 provides guidelines on how agencies can implement child protection measures; tools 3, 4, and 5 provide training exercises and materials to understand child protection, child protection in emergency contexts, as well as children's participation. Page 53 of Tool 2 provides guidance on preventing harm to children during emergency or humanitarian crises
The Education of Former Child Soldiers: Finding a Way Back to Civilian Identity
This resource summarizes types of programmatic interventions for children formerly associated with armed forces and groups to continue their education. Education programs include integration into existing school programs, accelerated learning, and vocational studies. It identifies elements of successful programs for children's reintegration into civilian life and principles such as avoiding stigmatization, promoting inclusion, and long-term financial support. Appendix II includes a comparison of a rights-based approach and economic approach in programmatic approaches.
Criteria for the Design and Evaluation of Juvenile Justice Reform Programmes
September 2010
This resource identifies good practice for juvenile justice programs and develops a set of criteria for their design and evaluation based on the rights of the child enshrined in international norms and standards. This resource also considers basic principles and programs for child victims and witnesses of crimes. The annex includes sample programming goals, objectives, outcomes, and potential impact.
Toolkit on Diversion and Alternatives to Detention
September 2010
This resource is an online toolkit that provides practical guidance on advocating and implementing diversion and alternatives to detention for children in conflict. Diversion means channeling children in conflict away from judicial proceedings to be dealt with by non-judicial bodies. This resource explores steps for implementation, including data management, monitoring and evaluation, and planning. It also includes a list of additional resources, such as fact sheets and case studies.
Children and Truth Commissions
August 2010
This resource is intended to inform the work of child protection advocates and organizations, legal experts and other professionals in their efforts to protect the rights of children involved in truth and reconciliation processes. It includes emerging good practices and recommended procedures for children's participation in truth commissions. The annex also provides model checklists for taking statements from children and model memorandum-of-understanding (MOU) agreements between truth commissions and child protection agencies.
Children and Security Sector Reform in Post-conflict Peace-building
June 2010
This resource considers children and youth in the post-conflict peacebuilding phase of restoring justice and security. It discusses national structures and mechanisms, such as hybrid courts, domestic prosecution, and truth commissions, and articulates their relevance to children and young people. This report also explores the role of civil society organizations in building accountability and good governance within the security sector.
Prosecuting International Crimes Against Children: The Legal Framework
June 2010
This resource provides an overview of state obligations under international law to prosecute persons accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and enforced disappearances, specifically focusing on crimes against children. Using an example of the Omar Khadr case, this resource also explores international norms regarding children accused of participating in the commission of these crimes.
Psychosocial Support for Children: Protecting the Rights of Child Victims and Witnesses in Transitional Justice Processes
June 2010
This resource outlines the importance of psychosocial support for children in their participation in transitional justice mechanisms, such as international tribunals, hybrid tribunals, and truth commissions. It also provides an overview of policies and procedures which protect the rights of child participants in truth, justice, and reconciliation efforts.
Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, UN General Assembly Resolution 64/142
24 February 2010
This resource provides UN guidelines for the alternative care of children, which are intended to enhance implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). This resource is intended to assist and encourage governments to implement their responsibilities and obligations towards children, including in situations of armed conflict.
DDR, Transitional Justice, and the Reintegration of Former Child Combatants
February 2010
This resource explores how transitional justice measures may positively affect former child combatants by reducing social exclusion from their communities. It considers several issues in relation to reintegration of children; such issues include truth-telling, reparations, local justice, and prosecutions.
Child Protection Systems Mapping and Assessment Toolkit: Users' Guide
This resource is intended to help practitioners develop comprehensive national child protection systems and prioritize actions. Mapping and assessment should include an analysis of the current child protection system, an understanding of the legal and normative framework, highlighting key risks, identifying global best practices, finding opportunities to improve services, and planning for the necessary financial and human resources.
Children and Armed Conflict: A Guide to International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law
This resource provides an overview of the international legal framework, and explains the practical applicability of the law and standards as they relate to children and armed conflict. This resource also discusses internally displaced children; sexual violence against children; child labor; children and landmines and cluster bombs; children and small armed and light weapons; child victims, witnesses and perpetrators of crimes; and the role of children in peace processes.
Operational Guide to the Integrated Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Standards
This resource is intended to accompany the Integrated DDR Standards (IDDRS) document. As an operational guide, this resource summarizes key guidance from each IDDRS module. Guidance 5.20 and 5.30 focus on youth and children DDR; it examines reintegration programming, advocacy, and prevention of recruitment.
Putting Children at the Centre: a practical guide to children's participation
Intended for Save the Children staff at headquarters and field offices who work on children's participation, this resource provides practice standards, a toolkit of activities, and guiding questions for planning participation activities. This resource also provides guides to including children in advocacy and campaigning, fundraising, media and communications, recruitment, governance, and emergencies.
Guidelines on International Protection No. 8: Child Asylum Claims under Article 1(A)2 and 1(F) of the 1951 Convention and/or 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees
22 December 2009
This resource is intended to provide legal interpretive guidance for governments, legal practitioners, decision makers, the judiciary, and other practitioners who need assistance carrying out refugee status determination in the field. This resource also provides guidelines on carrying out this determination in a child-sensitive manner and includes an overview of the relevant international legal framework.
Report and Proposals for the Implementation of Reparations in Sierra Leone
December 2009
This resource evaluates a one-year project by the UN and the Government of Sierra Leone to implement the recommendations for reparations found the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Final Report. The report summarizes the findings of the evaluation and provides recommendations to improve the Sierra Leone reparations program.
The Six Grave Violations against Children during Armed Conflict: The Legal Foundation
October 2009
This resource lays out the legal basis for the UN Security Council's prioritization of six grave violations committed against children during armed conflict. It is intended to serve as a legal guide to help strengthen child protection and end impunity of crimes. It draws on international humanitarian law, human rights law, jurisprudence, and UN Security Council resolutions to establish killing and maiming, recruitment and use in conflict, rape and sexual violence, abduction, attacks against schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access as the most serious crimes committed against children in situations of armed conflict.
Knowledge on Fire: Attacks on Education in Afghanistan, Risks and Measures for Successful Mitigation
September 2009
A case study of Afghanistan, this resource provides an overview of threats and attacks on education, including the nature of attacks and risk factors. It concludes with recommendations about how to mitigate and prevent attacks on schools, paying special attention to the roles of communities.
Training Manual to Fight Trafficking in Children for Labour, Sexual and Other Forms of Exploitation
July 2009
This resource aims to assist donor governments, workers, employers and NGOs to combat trafficking in children for labor, sexual, and other forms of exploitation. Exploitation is defined to include the forced or compulsory recruitment of children. The training manual includes three textbooks, an exercise book, and facilitator's guide.
Children's and Adolescents' Participation and Protection From Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
February 2009
This resource highlights government commitments regarding the participation of children and adolescents in combating sexual abuse and exploitation. It includes children's recommendations to end abuse and exploitation and provides recommendations for strengthening child and youth participation in child protection.
What is Transitional Justice?
1 January 2009
This two-page fact sheet describes transitional justice; where it came from and how it is used as a response to systematic or widespread violations of human rights. The aims of transitional justice will vary depending on the context but these features are constant: the recognition of the dignity of individuals; the redress and acknowledgment of violations; and the aim to prevent them happening again. Transitional justice is often approached in the following forms: criminal prosecutions, truth seeking/fact finding, reparations, reforms. More information is also available on the International Center for Transitional Justice website: https://www.ictj.org/about/transitional-justice
ARC Resource Pack: A capacity-building tool for child protection in and after emergencies
This resource is a collection of training materials to help ensure effective child protection programming and protection systems. Primarily intended for facilitators and trainers, programmers who work on child rights or child protection, and members of child protection clusters, this resource pack includes a user guide, training manual, and facilitator's toolkit. Foundation modules include topics such as participation and inclusion, advocacy, community mobilization, and psychosocial support. Also included are seven critical issue modules, with module 7 on children associated with armed forces or armed groups.
Behind the Uniform: Training the military in child rights and children protection in Africa
In 1998, Save the Children Sweden began training military personnel, including pre-deployed peacekeepers, in child rights and child protection across Africa. This resource outlines the training program and provides a summary of its achievements, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations. Annex 3 includes the international legal framework for child protection in conflict settings. Annex 5 lists the materials used during trainings.
Children, Youth & Conflict: An introductory toolkit for engaging children and youth in conflict transformation
This resource examines principles for mainstreaming children and youth participation. It provides guidance on engaging children and youth through a variety of programs, such as radio programs, training, mentoring, and theatre. This resource also provides examples of indicators, evaluation tools, and a case study on Sierra Leone.
Guidelines for Child Participation
This resource outlines World's Visions minimum basic expectations for upholding child participation. These guidelines may apply to activities such as focus group discussions and research, sponsorship activities, children's clubs, children's engagement in community activities, and child representatives participating in national or international decision-making events.
ICTY Manual on Developed Practices
This resource shares the International Criminal Tribunal of Yugoslavia's (ICTY) experiences and established practices in the prosecution and adjudication of cases involving war crimes and serious violations of international humanitarian law. This manual is intended for actors prosecuting crimes during armed conflict in national and international jurisdictions. It provides guidelines on opening an investigation and information gathering, interviewing witnesses, indictments, issuing arrest warrants, pre-trial proceedings, trial and case management, and enforcement of sentences.
Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime: Model Law and Related Commentary
A companion to UN ECOSOC's Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crimes, this resource is intended to assist the design or review of laws and practices regarding child victims and witnesses of crimes. These model laws can assist States in adapting their legislation to meet the provisions contained in the guidelines or other international instruments such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
Rule-of-Law Tools for Post-Conflict States: Amnesties
Intended for practitioners, this resource explores the concept of amnesty and considers the relationship between amnesties and other processes of transitional justice, such as truth commissions, the right to remedy and reparations, and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programs. This resource also incorporates relevant rules of international law and United Nations policy when drafting amnesties.
Youth and Conflict: Best Practices and Lessons Learned
The resource examines Mercy Corps' best practices and lessons learned on its youth programming, including general program design and implementation. It also considers specific program areas such as economic engagement, political participation, youth-to-community connections, and youth-to-youth connections.
Handbook on Legislative Reform: Realising Children's Rights, Vol. 1
November 2008
In order to support implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), this resource examines constitutional and legislative reforms in favor of the rights of children. Taking a human rights-based approach, it considers various guiding principles, rights of victims, prevention, criminalization, and processes and entry points for constitutional and legislative reforms.
Guidance Note of the Secretary-General: UN Approach to Justice for Children
September 2008
This resource is intended to provide guidance for children's activities in pre-crisis, crisis, and post-crisis contexts, with particular attention to achieving justice for children at the national level. This resource includes nine guiding principles and a framework for a justice approach to child protection and child participation.
Transitional Justice: Information Handbook
September 2008
This resource looks at the goals of transitional justice post-conflict and factors for determining appropriate transitional justice mechanisms. It provides guidelines on criminal prosecutions, truth commissions, vetting, reparations and compensation.
We've Got Something to Say - Promoting Child and Youth Agency: A Facilitator's Manual
June 2008
Intended for those who work with Christian Children's Fund programs, this resource aims to strengthen child and youth involvement. It discusses preparing a child friendly enabling environment and consulting, planning and implementing programs with children and young people. The appendices provide tools and activities to engage children and youth.
Establishing Gender-Based Violence Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Multi-sectoral and Inter-organizational Prevention and Response to Gender-based Violence in Humanitarian Settings
May 2008
Developed in collaboration with UN agencies, government, and non-governmental and community-based organizations, this resource sets out the process for developing a standard operating procedure (SOP) to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) in various stages of an emergency. An SOP template is available beginning on page 7.
The Camp Management Toolkit
May 2008
Chapter 11 of this resource examines protection of persons with specific needs in a camp setting, including boys and girls, youth, women, and persons with disabilities. Each chapter includes a checklist for a camp management agency and a list of tools. This resource also considers camp issues such as participation and community involvement, protection, gender-based violence, education, and livelihoods.
UNHCR Guidelines for Determining the Best Interests of the Child
May 2008
This resource builds on the practices of domestic child protection systems and details UNHCR's formal procedure for the 'best interests determination' (BID) of a child. This process is designed to facilitate adequate child participation without discrimination. This resource includes guidance on setting up a BID procedure, collecting information, balancing competing rights, and informing the child and follow-up measures.
UNHCR Handbook for the Protection of Women and Girls
January 2008
This resource provides an overview of the legal standards and responsibilities to protect women and girls. It discusses issues such as displacement, prevention, reintegration, participation in peacebuilding processes, and the administration of justice during displacement for formal, traditional, and transitional mechanisms. Chapter 6 provides an overview of the international and regional legal framework. This resource is intended for UNHRC staff, both at headquarters and in the field, and protection partners.
Children as Active Citizens: A Policy and Programme Guide
This resource considers commitments and obligations for children's civil rights and civic engagement in East Asia and the Pacific. It aims to strengthen children's civil rights and provides guidance on capacities, structures, and resources needed to strengthen children's civil rights. The annex includes a checklist to assess children's citizenship and civil rights at the national level. This resource is intended for decision-makers at the national level and service providers to realize civil rights for children.
Education for Peace: Building Peace and Transforming Armed Conflict Through Education Systems
Arguing that formal education systems play a role in peace building, this resource provides key findings and recommendations as to how children and formal education systems should be involved in peace building. It considers fieldwork from Guatemala, Nepal, and Liberia.
No One to Turn to: Under-reporting of child sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers and peacekeepers
Based on focus group interviews and consultations with children and adults living in chronic emergencies, as well as humanitarian professionals, this resource provides a snapshot on the under-reporting of sexual exploitation by aid workers and peacekeepers. Recommendations, which begin on page 22, include building effective local complaints mechanisms, establishing a new global watchdog, and tackling the root causes of abuse.
Rule of Law tools for Post-Conflict States: Reparations Programmes
This resource provides a practical guide for implementing effective reparations programs. It focuses on establishing out-of-court reparations programs to redress gross and serious violations of human rights in conflict settings. It also examines kinds of benefits, financing reparations, linking with other justice measures, and making programs gender-sensitive.
Security Sector Reform Assessment, Monitoring, and Evaluation and Gender
Part of a larger gender and security sector reform (SSR) toolkit, this resource examines existing SSR assessment frameworks and considers how to include a gender perspective in these existing tools and approaches. It also looks at gender mainstreaming initiatives in security sector institutions and provides guidance on conducting a gender audit and monitoring and evaluation of gender mainstreaming. This resource recommends consulting marginalized groups, such as child advocacy groups, in the monitoring and evaluation process
The OECD DAC Handbook on Security Systems Reform (SSR): Supporting Security and Justice
This resource provides guidelines on security sector reform and governance and the design, implementation, and evaluation of such programs. Intended to inform donor support for SSR, this resource specifically targets development, security, rule of law, and diplomatic actors. This resource also discusses developing an integrated approach to SSR for countries emerging from conflict and related issues such as transitional justice and disarmament demobilization, and reintegration programs.
Toolkit on Child Protection in Emergencies: A Guide for Field Workers
Section 5 of this resource focuses on psychosocial support for children in emergencies. It includes materials necessary for a two day training course on psychosocial support for children in an emergency. Documents include a training schedule, worksheets, handouts, and exercises.
The Participation of Children and Young People in Emergencies
October 2007
Written for staff and managers of relief agencies and children's agencies active in emergency response, this resource provides a guide for programming with children's participation in emergencies. This resource considers: providing information for children; involving children in assessments, planning and decision making; feedback and complaint mechanisms for children; and children's and young people's associations in emergencies.
Implementation Handbook for the Convention on the Rights of the Child
September 2007
This resource is intended as a practical guide for explaining and implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the two Optional Protocols. This resource summarizes each article and provides comments, recommendations, and an implementation checklist. The appendices include a list of other key legal and policy instruments.
The Paris Commitments to protect children from unlawful recruitment or use by armed forces or armed groups
February 2007
The Paris Commitments and Principles and Guidelines on children associated with armed forces or armed groups consolidate global humanitarian knowledge and experience in working to prevent recruitment, protect children, support their release from armed forces or armed groups and reintegrate them into civilian life. The Paris Principles and Commitments build on the Cape Town principles and best practices on the recruitment of children into the armed forces and on demobilization and social reintegration of child soldiers in Africa (Cape Town principles) which were adopted in 1997.
The Paris Principles. Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed Groups
February 2007
The Paris Commitments and Principles and Guidelines on children associated with armed forces or armed groups consolidate global humanitarian knowledge and experience in working to prevent recruitment, protect children, support their release from armed forces or armed groups and reintegrate them into civilian life. The Paris Principles and Commitments build on the Cape Town principles and best practices on the recruitment of children into the armed forces and on demobilization and social reintegration of child soldiers in Africa (Cape Town principles) which were adopted in 1997.
Supporting the Realization of Children's Rights through a Rights-Based Approach to Legislative Reform
January 2007
This resource aims to guide UNICEF regional and country offices in programming for child rights in legislative reform and creating the necessary human and financial resources for legislative reform. This resource links the issue of legislative reform to the key international policies and laws and emphasizes the importance of the national legal system. The resource concludes by examining cross-cutting issues and challenges and provides indicators, sample program plans, and checklists.
Justice as Prevention: Vetting Public Employees in Transitional Societies
The second volume in the ICTJ's Advancing Transitional Justice Series, this resource is comprised of a collection of essays that explores the issue of vetting in a variety of countries and contexts. Chapter 13 examines vetting and transitional justice. The appendix includes operational guidelines for vetting public employees in post-conflict settings.
Minimum Standards for Consulting with Children
In addition to the Operations Manual on Children's Participation in Consultations, this resource was developed to facilitate children's participation in studies and meetings. This resource sets minimum standards for children's participation in international meetings and includes criteria and procedures for each standard. These standards are intended for organizing commitments of different organizations and agencies which send children to participation in meetings.
Operations Manual on Children's Participation in Consultations
In addition to the Minimum Standards for Consulting with Children, this resource was developed to facilitate children's participation in studies and meetings. This operations manual includes planning and preparatory materials, selection, registration forms, briefing materials, child protection, and terms of reference for roles such as organizing committees and child protection teams.
Stolen Futures: The Reintegration of Children Affected by Armed Conflict
This resource identifies issues related to children who have been associated with armed forces and groups and have then been released and reintegrated into their families or communities. It highlights several important points such as successful reintegration techniques, special consideration for girls, and a child rights approach to reintegration. It also gives consideration to preventing re-recruitment, community-based initiatives, and increasing children's livelihood and vocational training.
IASC Gender Handbook: Women, Girls, Boys and Men: Different Needs – Equal Opportunities
December 2006
This resource is intended to assist field practitioners responding to humanitarian emergencies in meeting standards for integrating gender issues. It offers checklists for monitoring gender equality programming and focuses on major cross-cutting issues such as camp coordination and management, education, food issues, health, livelihoods, non-food items, registration, shelter, and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene).
Implementing Victims' Rights: A Handbook on the Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation
March 2006
This resource was created as a companion to the UN's Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law. It was intended to help guide non-governmental and civil society organizations advocate for victims' rights as primary concern in state action.
Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation & Sexual Violence in Disaster & Emergency Situations: A guide for local & community based organisations
March 2006
This resource aims to provide guidance for local grassroots organizations in the protection of children from sexual violence and sexual exploitation. It explores relevant legal and policy frameworks and existing protection frameworks. This resource also includes key actions to minimizing the risks of sexual violence, such as advocacy and campaigning, protection committees, creating safe spaces, and psychosocial support and education. The annex includes checklists for action.
Child and Youth Participation Resource Guide
This resource compiles materials on child and youth participation, including children's participation in emergencies, conflict situations and peace building. Part four focuses on children's involvement in political decision making, such as their role in policy analysis in National Plans of Action, Committee on the Rights of the Child, and other organizations and conferences.
Integrated Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Standards
This resource is intended to guide practitioners on a range of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration activities and programs. Module 5.20 looks specifically at youth and DDR and considers socio-economic reintegration strategies for youth and young-ex-combatants, gender issues, and socio-political integration. Module 5.30 examines children and DDR and considers programming, access of children to DDR programs, prevention of recruitment and re-recruitment of children, and DDR programming for girls.
Rule-of-Law Tools for Post-Conflict States: Mapping the justice sector
This resource aims to assist UN missions and transitional administrations in mapping the justice sector to understand how it operates in states before and during conflict. This resource provides an overview of key institutions, mechanisms, and priorities such as linkages between institutions and oversight bodies or accountability mechanisms. Page 14 focuses on traditional justice.
Rule-of-Law Tools for Post-Conflict States: Prosecution initiatives
This resource lays out the basic considerations for prosecution initiatives and aims to assist United Nations staff when addressing challenges to prosecuting perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. It focuses on the technical, domestic challenges of such prosecutions and highlights considerations that should be applied to all prosecutorial initiatives. It examines strategic considerations, trial management and due process, and forms of interventions such as hybrid tribunals.
Rule-of-Law Tools for Post-Conflict States: Truth Commissions
This resource establishes principles and standards for the creation of truth commissions and explores core operational activities such as statement-taking, building a database, research and investigations, public hearings, public outreach, and report writing. It also explores the link between truth commissions, prosecutions, reparations, vetting, and reforms. The role of national and international NGOs in truth commissions is considered. Meant to assist field missions and transitional administrations, this resource uses lessons learned from previous UN field missions in Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste.
Rule-of-Law Tools for Post-Conflict States: Vetting: an operational framework
Written for United Nations field staff and others responsible for institutional and personnel reform in post-conflict states, this resource provides an overview of vetting as a tool of institutional reform and transitional justice. It also explores the conditions of transitional personnel reform, operational guidelines for assessment and designing the vetting process, and considerations regarding the political conditions surrounding reform.
Technical notes: Special Considerations for Programming in Unstable Situations
Prepared for UNICEF staff working to assist children and women in emergencies, this resource assists in identifying and prioritizing needs of children and designing and implementing interventions in unstable environments. It covers topics such as education, children separated from families, protecting the rights of the child, internally displaced children and women, child combatants, and juvenile justice.
Vetting Public Employees in Post-Conflict Settings: Operational Guidelines
This resource provides guidance on vetting in post-conflict settings. It includes an overview of factors that determine a vetting process, designing a vetting process, different types of vetting, and other relevant institutional reforms. The annex includes a vetting checklist, a capacity and integrity framework, and relevant conventions and codes for vetting in security and judicial sectors.
Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law
December 2005
This UN General Assembly resolution provides principles related to State's obligations concerning reparations to victims of international humanitarian and human rights abuses. Victims have a right to be treated humanely and with respect, to access justice and relevant information, and to be afforded adequate and effective reparation without discrimination.
Ethical Approaches to Gathering Information from Children and Adolescents in International Settings: Guidelines and resources
September 2005
This resource aims to provide guidance to program managers and researchers on collecting information from and about young people on their health and social welfare conditions, as well as those who have experienced trafficking, abuse, or displacement. It considers basic ethical principles regarding children's participation. The annex includes a sample survey and consent form.
Fighting back: Child and community-led strategies to avoid children's recruitment into armed forces and groups in West Africa
September 2005
Using case studies from Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, this resource focuses on strategies to prevent children's recruitment in armed forces and groups. Strategies to prevent recruitment include developing targeted messages, avoiding separation, providing alternative care, schooling and skills training, and improving livelihoods. Intended to inform initiatives by governments, the UN, and non-governmental organizations, this resource also provides an overview of what constitutes voluntary and forced recruitment.
Guidelines for Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings: Focusing on Prevention of and Response to Sexual Violence in Emergencies
September 2005
Intended to assist humanitarian actors and communities, this resource provides guidance on planning and implementing interventions to prevent and respond to sexual violence during the initial emergency phase. Guiding action points for minimum prevention and response in areas such as coordination, assessment and monitoring, protection, and education are available beginning on page 15. Annex 2 includes a sample monitoring form. Annex 3 contains a sample incident report form.
Guidelines on Justice in Matters Involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime
22 July 2005
This resource establishes good practices in order ensure full respect of the rights of child victims and witnesses of crimes. These guidelines can assist governments, organizations, and professionals in designing and implementing legislation, program and practices at the national, regional, and international levels. The document emphasizes that child victims and witnesses have the right to be treated with dignity and compassion, to be protected from discrimination, to be informed, to be heard and express views and concerns, to effective assistance, to privacy, to be protected from hardship during the justice process, to safety, to repatriation, and to special preventative measures.
The Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration of Children Associated with the Fighting Forces: Lessons Learned in Sierra Leone 1998-2002
June 2005
This resource looks at the children's aspect of Sierra Leone's disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) program. It also provides an overview of DDR during and after the end of Sierra Leone's civil war. Other topics covered include an analysis of girls in the DDR process, family tracing and reunification, alternative care, reintegration, strategies of prevention, and lessons learned.
Support to Former Child Soldiers: Programming and Proposal Evaluation Guide
May 2005
This resource provides best practices and lessons learned in programming for children affected by armed conflict, with a focus on child soldiers. In addition to an overview of the relevant international legal standards regarding the recruitment and use of children, this resource also provides a grid to evaluate proposals or design programs to support former child soldiers. Other tools include a risk probability and impact matrix and checklists on prevention, demobilization, and reintegration.
Reintegration of Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone
9 February 2005
From 1994 to 2004, USAID administrated a Displaced Children and Orphans Fund (DCOF) for child affected by conflict in Sierra Leone. This resource provides observations and lessons learned of DCOF-funded projects for children affected by armed conflict. The evaluation gives special attention to girls' access to disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) programs in Sierra Leone. Page 17 identifies critical elements of successful reintegration of children associated with armed forces.
Gender-Based Violence Legal Aid: A Participatory Toolkit
This resource is intended to assist field staff design gender-based violence (GBV) services and GBV legal aid using a participatory approach. Intended for actors in the humanitarian, justice, and security sector, this toolkit provides a preliminary assessment tool, action planning worksheets, and guidelines and indicators on monitoring and evaluating gender-based violence programs.
Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Reports
This resource is the final report of the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission, held from 2002 to 2004. Volume Two, Chapter 3 contains recommendations concerning legal, political, and administrative reforms and measures, and includes a specific category for children. Volume Two, Chapter 4 provides the legal basis for reparations, lists categories for eligible beneficiaries, including children, and makes recommendations on according the benefits and effectively implementing the reparation program.
Youth and Conflict: A Toolkit for Intervention
Intended for development practitioners, this resource examines key issues related to youth participation in violence, discusses lessons learned in developing programs for at-risk youth, and presents a range of program options. Also included are illustrative monitoring and evaluation tools and relevant USAID mechanisms and partners.
Adolescent programming experiences during conflict and post-conflict
June 2004
This resource presents several case studies that highlight the role of adolescent participation in community development and peacebuilding during crisis. This document also summarizes the lessons learned in each context. Case studies include: Colombia, Indonesia, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Uganda.
Model Complaints and Investigation Procedures and Guidance Related to Sexual Abuse and Sexual Exploitation
March 2004
Developed by the IASC Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, this resource details steps taken when NGO staff or UN agency staff are suspected of sexual exploitation and abuse of women or children. Intended to build a consistent approach across all agencies, this resource provides an overview of complaints mechanisms, investigation guidelines, and interviewing witnesses and victims. Interview guidelines pay special attention to interviewing children.
Children's Participation in Humanitarian Action: learning from zones of armed conflict
February 2004
This resource considers the benefits and challenges of child participation in situations of armed conflict. Protection benefits are categorized into areas such as personal empowerment, access to services, communal identity, and psychosocial well-being. This report also considers the benefits of child participation in areas of peacebuilding, such as inter-community exchange and addressing the causes of conflict. Fieldwork for this report was conducted in eastern Sri Lanka, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Nepal.
Conflict-sensitive approaches to development, humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding
January 2004
This resource provides frameworks and guidelines to conflict-sensitive programming in the fields of development, humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding. It examines conflict-sensitive planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, sectoral approaches, and approaches for mainstreaming conflict sensitivity.
Inter-Agency Guiding Principles on Unaccompanied and Separated Children
January 2004
This resource focuses on children affected by armed conflict who become separated from their families, as well as unaccompanied children and orphans. It includes principles and guidelines for special issues related to refugee children and promoting children's rights. The annex provides a list of key international instruments relating to separated children.
A Fighting Chance: Guidelines and implications for programmes involving children associated with armed groups and armed forces
Intended for staff of Save the Children, this document provides guidelines for programs related to children associated with armed groups and armed forces. The resource contains an overview of key protection issues, international standards, and Save the Children's program experience. It also considers prevention, monitoring and reporting of recruitment and re-recruitment, challenges facing girls, and children conceived or born to girls in armed groups and armed forces.
Child Protection: A handbook for parliamentarians
Intended to assist parliaments and their members in legislating and promoting child protection, this resource provides an overview of specific child protection issues and explains international standards on child protection. Chapter 7 examines the issue of children and armed conflict. Other issues examined include sexual exploitation of children, harmful traditional practices, alternative care, juvenile justice, and the rights of child victims.
Children in War
This resource contains ICRC documents related to children affected by armed conflict. Documents include: a summary table of international humanitarian law provisions applicable to children; an overview of child protection and humanitarian assistance activities for children; and a summary of the ICRC's communication programs for young people and mine action programs.
Gender-Based Violence: Care & Protection of Children in Emergencies, A Field Guide
Intended for staff in emergency situations, this resource focuses on the prevention of gender-based violence in emergency field operations. It includes Save the Children's programming framework, principles, and process. Section III on page 9 provides an overview of international legal and policy instruments. Page 46 includes an implementation checklist.
Human Rights Standards and Practice for the Police: Expanded Pocket Book on Human Rights for the Police
Part of OHCHR's professional training series, this resource organizes major human rights topics for police. Relevant international human rights standards on topics such as investigations, arrest, detention and the use of force are explored. This resource is designed to complement OHCHR's International Human Rights Standards for Law Enforcement and Human Rights and Law Enforcement: A Trainer's Guide.
Making Commitments Matter: a toolkit for young people to evaluate national youth policy
This resource is intended for national youth organizations and representatives working with youth to determine ways to improve lives of young people. Area 1, page 27, discusses education and vocational training; area 10, page 65, discusses actions to ensure youth participation in decision-making; area 14, page 81, discusses youth and conflict prevention. This resource also provides guidance to conducting advocacy work on page 95.
Reaching the Girls: Study on Girls Associated with Armed Forces and Groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo
This resource studies the situation of girls associated with armed forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and why girls are not reached by efforts to release children associated with armed groups. Section 5 provides recommendations on the formal demobilization of girls in the DRC.
Separated Children: Care and Protection of Children in Emergencies
This resource provides a thematic overview of key child protection concerns, including international law and policy instruments, and guidance on programming in emergencies. The appendix includes sample forms and assessment questions. The annex includes sample forms to use with separated children and assessment questions.
Truth and Reconciliation Report for the Children of Sierra Leone, Child-friendly version
This resource provides an example of a child-friendly version of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report. Sierra Leone's TRC was the first truth commission to produce a child-friendly report to engage children and document children's experiences during the civil war.
Guide to the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict
December 2003
This resource aims to help child protection actors within governmental and non-governmental organizations advocate for the ratification and implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC). This resource emphasizes the monitoring and reporting requirements of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
Children Affected by Armed Conflict and Displacement: An Introductory Training Module
November 2003
This four-hour training module is designed to introduce individuals or groups to the principles of child protection in armed conflict and displacement. It reviews types of threats experienced by children and potential actions for improving protection. Activities, a final quiz, and sample feedback form accompany the module.
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence against Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Guidelines for Prevention and Response
May 2003
This resource provides guidance for protection of refugees against sexual and gender-based violence. It provides guiding principles and considers prevention strategies through transforming socio-cultural norms, rebuilding community support systems, improving accountability systems, and monitoring and documenting of sexual and gender-based violence. The annex includes a code of conduct and sample report forms.
Children and Armed Conflict: International Standards for Action
April 2003
This resource is a compilation of legal standards and norms regarding children and armed conflict, including the rights of the child, international humanitarian law, law on refugees and internally displaced persons, international criminal law, and UN Security Council resolutions.
Going Home: Demobilizing and reintegrating child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
This resource provides an overview of Save the Children's work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including its disarmament, demobilization, reintegration (DDR) activities. The Annex includes examples of various forms used in their programming, including documentation of children, history of mobilization, and certificate of reintegration forms.
Legal Protection of Children in Armed Conflict
A fact sheet developed by the ICRC's advisory service on international humanitarian law, this resource explains the general and special legal protection afforded to children during armed conflict under the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols and the role of States and the International Criminal Court (ICC) in upholding these protection standards.
International Criminal Justice and Children
September 2002
This resource introduces the international framework for children and justice, including international legal protection standards and judicial and non-judicial accountability mechanisms. It takes a particular look at protection of children in times of war and use of child soldiers, as well as protection of children as victims and witnesses. In particular, it outlines the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC), as well as its relation to national justice systems. Finally, it gives some concrete recommendations on the role of children in non-judicial mechanisms like truth commissions and traditional accountability mechanisms.
Children Participating in Research, Monitoring and Evaluation - Ethics and your responsibility as a manager
April 2002
This resource considers ethical issues and challenges around involving children in M&E programs given children's right to part to participate. It provides an overview of what participation means and issues such as accountability, protection of children's best interests, informing children, informed consent, and equity and non-discrimination. It also includes a checklist of questions for research and monitoring and evaluation managers when including child participation in research.
Human Rights and Law Enforcement: A Trainer's Guide on Human Rights for the Police
Part of OHCHR's professional training series, this resource provides an outline of training on human rights topics, group exercises, instructions, guidance for trainers, and handouts, including on the protection of juveniles. This resource is designed to complement OHCHR's International Human Rights Standards for Law Enforcement and the Human Rights Standards and Practice for the Police: Expanded Pocket Book on Human Rights for the Police.
International Human Rights Standards for Law Enforcement: A Pocket Book on Human Rights for the Police
This resource summarizes relevant international standards for police regarding their lawful and humane functions in democratic societies. It contains relevant standards for the protection of juveniles and the human rights of women. It is designed to complement OHCHR's Human Rights and Law Enforcement: A Trainer's Guide on Human Rights for the Police and Human Rights Standards and Practice for the Police: Expanded Pocket Book on Human Rights for the Police.
Child Soldiers: Preventing, Demobilizing and Reintegrating
November 2001
Drawing on case studies from Angola and El Salvador, this resource provides examples, techniques and checklists on prevention, demobilization, and reintegration of child soldiers. It considers issues such as family reunification and community-based networks, psychosocial and traditional healing, and education and economic opportunity. It also includes checklists, lessons learned, and the international legal framework.
Children and The Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Sierra Leone: Recommendations for policies and procedures for addressing and involving children in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
June 2001
This resource contains recommendations from a technical meeting on children for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Sierra Leone held in 2001. The report outlines guiding principles for the truth and reconciliation commission, which include psycho-social support for children and child friendly environments. The resource concludes with participating children's views and expectations of the TRC.
Child Soldiers: Care & Protection of Children in Emergencies, A Field Guide
Intended as a practical reference for practitioners in emergency settings, this resource is designed for field, headquarters, and Save the Children partner organization staff members who design and manage children and war programs. It discusses child soldiers and their vulnerabilities, the international framework, and a programming framework that includes demobilization and reintegration, and a process for program design.
Children Not Soldiers: Guidelines for working with child soldiers and children associated with fighting forces
This resource provides guidance for practitioners working with children involved in armed conflict. Part 1 includes an overview of the responsibilities of states, the international community, and non-state armed groups, and the legal framework that grounds all action to protect children associated with fighting forces. Part 2 addresses the military recruitment of children.
Monitoring and Investigating Human Rights Abuses in Armed Conflict
This resource considers monitoring human rights abuses in situations of armed conflict and provides information required to prepare for fact-finding missions, as well as guidelines on how to investigate and verify information and determine sufficient proof. The annexes include relevant international and regional human rights laws in Africa. An overview of human rights abuses against children in situations of armed conflict is provided on page 33.
Child Rights and Child Protection before, during, and after conflict: Training Manual for Military Personnel
December 2000
Drafted for military trainers, this resource is intended to train military personnel and familiarize them with the legal instruments of child protection and child rights. The manual's themes include the legal standards on child rights and child protection, the effects of armed conflict on children, and collaborating with humanitarian organizations and civil authorities. Additional materials include handouts, exercises, checklists, and other visuals.
Ukweli: Handbook on Monitoring and Documenting Human Rights Violations in Africa
This resource defines key activities related to human rights contact-building, monitoring, fact-finding, and documenting. It also defines the principles of accuracy, confidentiality, impartiality, and gender-sensitivity for conducting research on human rights violations. Based on the experience of African human rights defenders, this resource provides guidance for national and local human rights organizations and activists who are new to human rights research and human rights law. An accompanying 'A Handbook for Community Activists' is also available.
Cape Town Principles and Best Practices
30 April 1997
Adopted at the Symposium on the 'Prevention on recruitment of children into armed forces and on demobilization and social reintegration of child soldiers in Africa,' the Cape Town Principles and Best Practices provide guidance on prevention of child recruitment, demobilization of child soldiers, and reintegration into family and community life. This resource provides guiding principles, such giving priority to children in a demobilization process or considering the special protection needs of children who leave armed groups before the end of hostilities.
Refugee Children: Guidelines on Protection and Care
Intended for UNHCR staff and its operational partners, this resource provides guidelines on the protection and care of refugee children. It includes an overview of treaty standards, cultural considerations, psychosocial well-being, personal liberty and security, legal status, education, and unaccompanied children. The Annex provides UNHRC's policy on refugee children.
Justice in Matters involving child victims and witnesses of crime: Online training
This free online self-learning tool is intended for practitioners working in an area related to child victims and witnesses of crime. Registration is required.
Search resources
Filter resources by
CAC Accountability Components
Accountability Mechanisms
Resource Types
Submit a resource