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introduction Specific initiatives More specific approaches increase learning and influence on particular issues such as children affected by conflict, exploitation or disability. This work has influence in areas of broader community development, such as government legislation/practice on child protection, and education access. Specific projects tend to be time-bound, responsive and have a regional or international dimension. Their objectives will give more weighting to actions that demonstrably improve institutions or frameworks impacting on children. Examples were seen in Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines where local issues were linked to regional or international concerns giving opportunity for advocacy and effective partnership with government. Both the integrated and the specific approaches include practical expression of key areas of recommendation from the CAN study: 27 • Integrated actions that support families give greater weighting to defining and applying frameworks for child/youth participation as part of their approach to building community; promoting public awareness, through coalitions; and furthering local policy and programs that impact community. • Specific initiatives also build public awareness on an issue for a measurable purpose, such as the creation of legal protection mechanisms for children. They may build human capacity to initiate outcome-focused research and evaluation. Their objectives will give more weighting to actions that demonstrably improve institutions or frameworks impacting on children. The political aspect of promoting change takes into account community issues vis-à-vis a national or regional environment. Improving domestic legal frameworks of importance to children is but one example where implications are local, national, regional and international. Limitations arise if each area is pursued exclusively. Integrated action can address a range of issues but be unable to bring sufficient resources to key areas that may emerge from its general activity. The CAN study, for example, identified domestic violence as a high concern in areas where broader community development operates. These activities can sometimes incorporate a response if it is in keeping with operational constraints, donor requirements and staff capacity. It requires a change in direction for a project that may have general livelihood improvement as a main focus. On the other hand, specific initiatives may become so narrow that their sustainable impact is threatened as it has few links with other areas of priority. Also, specific projects are often more affected by shifts in political will. For example, in seeking improved legal protection of children (highlighted as a need in the CAN study), changes to laws cannot be integrated with most community development activities. Yet the impact of poor enforcement is felt at the community level. Program planners need to identify approaches appropriate to their operational environment and to the nature of the risks to children. Child protection as a specific program focus Promotion of a safer world for children requires approaches that seek to strengthen government protection mechanisms, as the CAN study 28 highlighted. Initiatives need to work on local, national, regional and international levels, as all these dimensions are involved in understanding and responding to this type of risk. Children and community members see and experience injustice, as the following extract from an Indonesian poem shows; they form views as to who is responsible for discomfort or poverty of choice; resentment builds and sometimes spills over into violence. 27 Dorning, K, Crying Out, World Vision International, 2002 28 Dorning, K, Crying Out, World Vision International, 2002 21
introduction Because we are abandoned on the streets And you own all the shade… Because we endure floods And you party on pleasure boats … So we don’t like you. Because we are silenced And you never stop nagging… Because we are threatened And you use violence against us… So we say to you No. Because we may not choose And you are free to make plans… Because we only have sandals And you are free to use rifles Because we must be polite And you have jails So No and No to you. Because we are the current of the river And you are the stones without heart … So the water will erode away the stones. – W S Rendra, Indonesia 29 In Indonesia, Sri Lanka and parts of the Philippines, tensions and attitudes affect children. Work in-community can assist in reducing cause for hatred, but influence is also needed with systems and government. Structures that don’t offer protection or that contribute to recurring difficulties can be reviewed if political will to acknowledge the problem can be generated. Freedom from exploitation is upheld through such international instruments as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Child exploitation that crosses borders requires international cooperation among law enforcement agencies. While this is now more possible through extraterritorial legislation, gaps in capacity and differing legal systems are barriers to due process. Countries where rule of law is strong have mechanisms to address such crimes. These include not only the legal system but also medical and human services. Public debate enables views to be expressed, police, judiciary and government held to account, and the need for change discussed. Change is possible through mechanisms of good governance and appropriate resources accompanying commitment. Developing countries do not have the same level of capacity or resources and face many barriers in achieving freedom for children from the violence of sexual exploitation and trafficking. It is here where the scale and nature of exploitation remains unacceptably high. It is in this context that outcome-focused partnerships and networks can be a substantial resource in promoting positive change for children. The CAN study recommended proactive approaches to develop clear internal policy/procedures that act on cases of child abuse and neglect. World Vision Cambodia has worked in partnership to build government capacity to reduce the risk children face of trafficking and sexual exploitation. Again, a table from Allan Fowler’s book Striking a Balance summarises the intention of the approach: Table 3. Concepts of capacity growth 30 Means Process Ends Capacity growth of civil society and government institution Improves the ability of primary stakeholders to identify and carry out activities to solve problems Enables and stimulates stronger civic interactions and communication, and conflict mediation and resolution in society, thereby enhancing social capital Increases ability of primary stakeholders to engage with and influence the political arena and socio-economic system in accordance with their interests 29 Rendra, W S, "Poem of an Angry Man", from Your Will Be Done, Youthdesk, Indonesia, 1984 (as appears in Takenaka, M & O’Grady, R, The Bible Through Asian Eyes, Pace Publishing in association with Asian Christian Art Association, New Zealand, 1991) 30 Fowler, A, Striking a Balance, 1997(8) 22
Page 1 and 2: Risk Laurence Gray
Page 3 and 4: Copyright © 2003 by World Vision I
Page 5 and 6: contents Useful approaches to build
Page 7 and 8: executive summary responsibility of
Page 9 and 10: executive summary The Philippines I
Page 11 and 12: introduction “How is it possible
Page 13 and 14: introduction Child as a normative f
Page 15 and 16: introduction • offer opportunity
Page 17 and 18: introduction information may emerge
Page 19 and 20: introduction Current challenges of
Page 21: introduction Planning long-term for
Page 25 and 26: Cambodia or a medical emergency. Ho
Page 27 and 28: Cambodia This drawing by a child sc
Page 29 and 30: Cambodia near the garbage dump have
Page 31 and 32: Cambodia The Mith Samlanh/Friends v
Page 33 and 34: Cambodia Mith Samlanh/Friends vocat
Page 35 and 36: Cambodia To further understand how
Page 37 and 38: Cambodia Responses were gained thro
Page 39 and 40: Cambodia LICADHO uses a variety of
Page 41 and 42: Cambodia Families are taught to dis
Page 43 and 44: Cambodia The Law Enforcement Agains
Page 45 and 46: Cambodia 3. The project was based o
Page 47 and 48: Indonesia • The BPS also estimate
Page 49 and 50: Indonesia For Children’s Day in J
Page 51 and 52: Indonesia Useful approaches to buil
Page 53 and 54: Indonesia Child protection concerns
Page 55 and 56: Indonesia Children in the IDP camp,
Page 57 and 58: Indonesia building strategies can b
Page 59 and 60: The Philippines • children who ar
Page 61 and 62: The Philippines • conducting a ra
Page 63 and 64: The Philippines increase opportunit
Page 65 and 66: The Philippines Barriers to child p
Page 67 and 68: Sri Lanka Children affected by conf
Page 69 and 70: Sri Lanka Partnership for education
Page 71 and 72: Sri Lanka Children’s play showing
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Sri Lanka Impact of the project Som
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Sri Lanka “I spoke to a group of
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Vietnam Background Community-based
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Vietnam • At the community level,
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Vietnam “States Parties recognise
Page 83 and 84:
Vietnam “Talk is cheap. Action is
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conclusion Agencies within civil so
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ecommendations universities. Advoca
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ecommendations • Emerging issues,
Page 91 and 92:
acknowledgements Many individuals a
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ibliography Amnesty International,
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appendix 1 Online toolkit The follo
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appendix 3 Some principles of World
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