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executive summary
The study found that:
themselves and those around them, and to
• Local authorities have increasingly
recover from trauma or injuries they have
supported these efforts as models and
experienced as a result of abuse or
approaches have emerged.
exploitation.
• Community-based rehabilitation can be • Provide adequate resources to strengthen
integrated with mainstream community the mechanisms of protection for children
development to the benefit of children who through increased law enforcement.
are at a high risk of neglect.
• Recognise the importance of the
• Government, family and civil society play a psychological and spiritual well-being of
role in implementing commitments made children, and cooperate with local
by the state through international
initiatives that are addressing these in
conventions.
appropriate ways, including those that are
faith-based.
• Further understanding of disability and
impact from interventions can be gained • Research emerging issues; document,
through joint research in partnership with monitor and share information showing
universities.
impact over time; use child-sensitive
indicators to monitor impact.
Key messages
• Invest in capacity building of staff,
Central messages of this study are that all counterparts, community members and
those seeking to protect children and ensure children.
their participation – including governments, • Invest in advocacy, collaboration and
donors, International Organisations, NGOs strategic partnerships to promote
and other civil society groups – should,
sustainable development and responsive
wherever possible,
government, and avoid duplication.
• Review existing processes and policies that
• Partner with children to support them in
may be restricting potential for change.
understanding and influencing their peers.
• Recognise, nurture and build on the
resilience that children often display in The world’s governments have promised to
extreme situations, which can be an asset
provide improved protection to children in
difficult circumstances and tackle the root
to other children, families and community.
causes leading to such circumstances.
• Recognise and support the family as the
principal agent for the fulfilment of
“Children’s lives cannot be put on
children’s development and potential. hold while adult society mulls over
its obligation to them.” 6
• Engage families and the community to
broaden their understanding on issues
Failure to act – to back up the good
affecting children through integrating
intention with practical measures that bring
activities with a clear social justice element. about a safer world for children – really does
• Use existing structures to promote social not honour the world’s promise to the child,
and political change. How to increase local nor the promise and potential of the child. In
political will to apply laws and resource the ten years, will the Secretary General of the
social sector? Mobilise communities.
United Nations again need to say to children
of the world, “We have failed you”?
• Increase the resources that will strengthen
institutions of education and health that Each of us can play a role in moving from
build children’s capacity to protect
failure to hope.
6 Amnesty International, Statement to the World Congress on Human Rights, 1993
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