icrc-annual-report-2013

are the primary target of health promotion sessions that helpensure that they have the knowledge and skills to help themprevent the spread of disease. For example, such sessionsmay include raising awareness among pregnant women andthe mothers of young children of how malaria is transmitted.Many receive mosquito nets...Within the ICRC’s approach to caring for the needs of thecivilian population, involvement in vaccination campaigns,in particular in difficult-to-access areas, is prioritized. ICRCsupport for immunization programmes (cold chain, transport,supervision) benefits mostly children under five and girls andwomen of child-bearing age, who receive vital vaccinationsagainst, for example, measles, tuberculosis, tetanus, diphtheria,polio and whooping cough. The ICRC may act as a neutralintermediary to facilitate access to isolated areas cut off byfighting so that other organizations may carry out vaccinationcampaigns; support a government in its immunization efforts;or substitute health authorities in cases where they are not ableto conduct activities themselves...In emergencies, the ICRC may also support therapeutic feedingactivities to help malnourished children and their mothers.PreventionMines/explosive remnants of war..To help prevent injuries caused by mines and explosiveremnants of war (ERW), the ICRC marks contaminatedareas, conducts mine-risk education, mobilizes and supportsauthorities/other actors to conduct clearance operations, and,in exceptional cases and in line with strict criteria, deploysspecialist teams to conduct such operations for a limited time.Specific mine-risk education sessions are designed to addresschildren’s needs. They are conducted in schools, places ofprayer and/or community fora and aim to ensure the safetyof civilians by informing them of the dangers of mines/ERW. In the event of an accident, it also provides surgical,medical and economic assistance to victims, including physicalrehabilitation. In parallel, it continues its advocacy withthe relevant authorities and often supports the work of thenational mine-action body...The ICRC supports communities to create safe play areasfor their children, free from mines/ERW, or to survey areassuspected to be contaminated by weapons to ensure they aresafe to play in.PEOPLE DEPRIVED OF THEIR FREEDOMProtection..Children detained in their own name may be registered by theICRC, and monitored on an individual basis with the aim ofensuring that they are afforded particular care and protection,including from torture and other forms of ill-treatment.Infants and other children accompanying detained parents(most commonly, mothers) may also be registered to ensurethat their needs are not forgotten and to deter any attempt touse the child to exert pressure on the parent...During its visits to people deprived of their freedom, theICRC pays special attention to the treatment and livingconditions of any children being held. Particular considerationis given to suspected victims of ill-treatment, including sexualviolence. It checks children’s accommodation, which shouldseparate boys from girls and children from adults (unlesstheir protection and well-being are better ensured by beingwith their families or other appropriate adults). Attentionis also paid to children’s ability to maintain regular contactwith their families and to engage in appropriate recreationaland educational activities. The ICRC provides confidentialreports and recommendations to the authorities concernedaccordingly...During its detention visits the ICRC also considers children’saccess to judicial guarantees. When children are detainedbeyond the time limits allowed by law, when they are eligiblefor non-custodial measures but have not had the opportunityto access them, or when they are below the age of criminalresponsibility, the ICRC makes representations to thedetaining authorities with the aim of securing their release...ICRC support for the penitentiary administration andtraining for penitentiary staff (medical personnel included)encompasses, whenever relevant, action regarding orconsideration of the particular needs of children, for examplein terms of food, health care, education and recreation...ICRC family-news services allow child detainees tocommunicate with their families and detained adults tocommunicate with their children outside. This contributes tothe psychological well-being of all concerned...The ICRC enables child detainees to receive family visits andchildren to visit their detained relatives, either by organizingthe visits itself or by covering the cost of transport. Family visitsare not only essential for the psychological well-being bothof the detainees and of their relatives outside, they are often avital channel through which detained children obtain food andother essential items, and even access to legal support...Children recruited or used by armed forces or armed groupsare often victims of unlawful recruitment and should betreated primarily as victims, not only as perpetrators. TheICRC therefore advocates non-custodial measures for childrenwho would otherwise be detained for the sole reason of beingassociated with an armed group.Assistance..ICRC assistance programmes for detainees are adapted to thespecific needs of children whenever necessary. For example,clothing, educational and recreational materials are gearedto the age of the child, and girls may receive female hygieneitems, medical supplies and support in accessing appropriatehealth care, particularly if they require ante/post-natal care...As infants may be born in detention, and they and youngchildren often stay with their detained mothers, their needsare also addressed, in terms, for example, of food, health care(including vaccinations), clothing and play...Where a detainee’s spouse and children risk destitutionthrough loss of the family’s main breadwinner, the ICRC mayinclude them in livelihood-support programmes that aim toimprove income-generation and self-sufficiency.Water and habitat..As part of its efforts to improve environmental healthconditions for detainees, the ICRC often carries outmaintenance, rehabilitation or construction projects in placesof detention. These projects always take into considerationthe needs of children, such as separate accommodation fromadults, dedicated sanitation facilities, space for activities,and adequate facilities for women with babies and/oryoung children...Detained minors and children living with their detainedmothers benefit from hygiene promotion sessions runin prison that aim to prevent and contain the spread ofcommunicable diseases. Sessions commonly cover the44 | ICRC ANNUAL REPORT 2013