Preventive Strategies for Child Protection

Transcription

1
July 2013
Preventive Strategies for
Child Protection
Practical Guidance to Form and Strengthen
Child Protection Committees
2
Acknowledgments
This report is founded in the insightful inputs and
contributions of a host of dedicated individuals
from Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh,
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu,
Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. These include
the officials from State Governments and District
Administrations, managers and field workers
from NGOs, and UNICEF staff and consultants.
3
July 2013
Preventive Strategies for
Child Protection:
Practical Guidance to Form and Strengthen
Child Protection Committees
4
Village, Panchayat and Block-level Child Protection Committees
facilitated by District Administrations, Zilla Parishads, NGOs, UNICEF
1
5,162
1,000
Uttar Pradesh
Rajasthan
521
Assam
150
3,000
West Bengal
Gujarat
177
Maharashtra
1,350
Andhra Pradesh
650
Karnataka
820
Tamil Nadu
1 »» A number of NGOs and CSOs have worked towards strengthening community-based child
protection, including through community-based child protection committees. This document
refers to the work undertaken as part of UNICEF’s partnerships with the government and NGOs.
40
Chhattisgarh
5
State
Andhra Pradesh
Assam
Chhattisgarh
Gujarat
No. of Districts
2
5
1
6
Karnataka
2
Maharashtra
2
Rajasthan
2
Tamil Nadu
3
Uttar Pradesh
3
West Bengal
4
Names of Districts
Kurnool, Warangal
Dibrugarh, Kokrajhar, Sonitpur, Sibsagar, Tinsukia
Sukma
Banaskantha, Bhavnagar, Kutch, Patan, Rajkot,
Vadodara
Koppal, Raichur
Jalna, Yavatmal
Dungarpur, Udaipur
Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem
Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Sonebhadra
Jalpaiguri, Malda, North 24 Pargana, South 24
Pargana
No. of CPCs
1,350
521
40
3,000
650
177
1,000
820
5,162
150
6
Abbreviations
A.P.
Andhra Pradesh
ANM
Auxiliary Nurse Midwife
AWW
Anganwadi Worker
BLTF
CDPO
CLPT
CP
Block level Task Force
Child Development Project Officer
Child Labour Prevention Team
Child Protection
CPC
Child Protection Committee
CRG
Child Rights Group
CV
CWC
DCPU
DLTF
DRDA
GP
Community Volunteers
Child Welfare Committee
District Child Protection Unit
District Level Task Force
District Rural Development Agency
Gram Panchayat
HM
Head Master
IEC
Information, Education & Communication
JJB
Juvenile Justice Board
MC
Mandal Coordinator
MCPC
Mandal Child Protection Committee
MPTC
Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency
NCLP
National Child Labour Programme
OSC
PLCC
Out-of-School children
Panchayat Level Convergence Committee
PRI
Panchayati Raj Institutions
RTE
Right to Education
SMC
School Management Committee
SOP
Standard Operating Procedure
SSA
Sarva Siksha Abhiyan
VIC
Village Information Centre
VLV
Village Link Volunteer
WASH
ZPTC
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency
7
Contents
Abbreviations
Introduction
01
Background
03
Preventive Child Protection:
Foundation of a Robust Child Protection System
04
Phases and Steps in Formation and Functioning of Child
Protection Committees
Phase I: Plan for Entry into the Community
07
Phase II: Preparing Communities for Child Protection
10
Phase III: Formation of Child Protection Committees
14
Phase IV: Functioning of Child Protection Committees
18
Roles of Stakeholders
Role of NGO as a Facilitator
24
Role of Volunteers and Children’s Groups
26
Roles of CPC Members
27
Recommendations
29
Conclusion
32
Partnerships
33
1
Introduction
The purpose of this document is to provide practical
and experiential guidance to State Child Protection
Societies, District Child Protection Units, District
Administrations, and Community-based Organizations
to set up and strengthen Child Protection Committees
at the community level. The document identifies
the processes undertaken, outlines roles of various
stakeholders in the process, and records case studies
of select interventions, which demonstrate how
preventive child protection works in convergence
with other groups, committees, and government
agencies. The document also summarizes key
challenges faced and strategies used to overcome
these challenges; additionally, the document also
provides recommendations towards scaling up and
strengthening CPCs across the country.
This report is based on the information provided by
UNICEF and partners in standardized templates that
were gathered from nine states. The information
collected from the states was reviewed to draw out
the process of CPC formation, and the practices that
were most effective in formation, strengthening, and
functioning of the CPCs. Subsequent to this review,
field visits and interviews with state government and
district administrations, NGOs, community members,
and UNICEF staff were undertaken to validate and
analyse the information received from the states.
2
This report can be effectively used to develop
context-specific (state and district) guidelines
to support the formation, strengthening, and
functioning of community-based CPCs.
While the report highlights the need to
standardize some processes – including roles
of CPCs and their capacity development, it
acknowledges and reiterates the need to have
a flexible, context specific approach, which
will make CPCs more relevant, meaningful,
and easily acceptable to the local realities.
 What does this report offer?
An experience-based step-by-step guide to formation,
strengthening, and functioning of community-based
CPCs
ÜÜ Key roles of all stakeholders, including members
of the CPCs at various stages of formation and
functioning of CPCs
ÜÜ Case studies of how active CPCs address protection
concerns of children from within the communities
ÜÜ Insights into challenges faced during the course
of forming CPCs, and the practical, contextual
solutions that are locally devised, to overcome
challenges
ÜÜ Areas of improvement and specific
recommendations and way forward for initiating
work towards setting up CPCs
ÜÜ The need for setting up monitoring mechanisms, the
role of CSOs in supportive supervision of CPCs
ÜÜ Recommendations to the government to create an
enabling environment to promote, recognize, and
institutionalize CPCs in order to realize the primary
objective of ICPS of creating a safety net for all
children
ÜÜ A list of over 80 partner organizations, which,
over the last few years, have through first-hand
experience, developed and enhanced understanding
to facilitate the formation and strengthening of
CPCs in ten states.
3
Background
ICPS and the Role of Communities
The role of community groups, local
leaders, volunteers, youth groups, families,
and children is to provide protective and
conducive environment for children, to act
as watchdog and monitor child protection
services by inter-alia participating in the
village and block level child protection
committees.
(ICPS Scheme Document, MWCD, Page 31)
The National Policy for Children 2013 2 identifies the
right to protection as a key priority and emphasizes
that a safe, secure, and protective environment is a
precondition for realization of all rights of children. The
Policy also states that a multi-sector, sustainable and
inclusive approach is essential to the development and
protection of children.
The Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) of
the Ministry of Women and Child Development
(MWCD), launched in 2009 aims at establishing and
strengthening a comprehensive child protection
system at state, district, and community level,
and provides a range of child protection services
to children. ICPS intends to build a protective
environment for all children, especially those
vulnerable to violence, abuse, and exploitation.
Through partnerships between government and civil
society, the scheme hopes to create a safety net that
prevents and responds to vulnerabilities of children.
ICPS identifies the lack of preventive interventions as
a significant gap in existing child protection services3,
and goes on to stress on the role of communities in
protection of children.
Over the years, a number of organizations have worked
to mobilize and organize communities to address
children’s issues. While these groups differ in their
nomenclature4, composition and functioning, they tend
to work with an overall goal of establishing a preventive
and responsive system at the community level. Since
the launch of ICPS, a more structured attempt is being
made to integrate this community-led action within the
scheme in the form of village, panchayat and block level
child protection committees (CPC).
2 »» MWCD, 2013.
3 »» ICPS: MWCD, Page 19.
4 »» Child Labour Elimination Committee, Village Watch Committee, Child Protection Committee
4
Preventive Child Protection:
Foundation of a robust child protection system
If we were to truly eliminate any harm to
children, is important to prevent it in the first
place.
As an example from practice, this would
mean, it will be as important to prevent
trafficking of children, as taking on the
challenging and at times, non-so-successful
road to recovery and reintegration of child
victims of trafficking.
This focus on primary prevention however
does not undermine the need to establish
strong response systems.
Experience from the field has guided a decisive shift
in the way organizations understand work on child
protection. While work on trafficking of children,
institutionalization, children affected by HIV and so
on have yielded results for children, this approach of
working on specific issues have inherent limitations
due to the fragmented approach5 . This has led to
organizations to turn to developing comprehensive
child protection efforts, with a systems approach,
which has been the hallmark of the health system6
across the world. This systems approach focus on
“primary prevention” which seeks to ameliorate the
conditions that create the problem in the first place7
and such prevention is a critical function of a sound
child protection system.
5 »» Adapting a Systems Approach to Child Protection: Key Concepts and Considerations, UNICEF Working Paper, January 2010
6 »» Inverting the Pyramid: Enhancing Systems for Protecting Children; Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, 2008
7 »» The Munro Review of Child Protection: Part I - A Systems Analysis; Eileen Munro, 2010
5
 Investing in prevention:
Understanding the Protection Pyramid8
y
iar
Te
rt
siv
en
Int
se
on
Re
ry
co
nd
a
Se
ary
m
Pr
im
te
ary
im
The focus on primary prevention would mean
increased efforts to empower and enable children,
families, and communities to take charge of protection
of children from violence, exploitation and abuse.
This, in turn, would mean that significant investment
Pr
ÜÜ Services “Universal” – to all children and families
ÜÜ Enhanced capacities of families and communities
ÜÜ High investments on Prevention
ry
da
on
ÜÜ Focus on Reducing Vulnerabilities
ÜÜ More support to “at risk” families and children,
including social protection
c
Se

ys
eS
sp
siv
en
nt
nI
y
iar
tio
rt
Te
ÜÜ Focus on Response
ÜÜ Few children and families
ÜÜ Intensive Interventions
ÜÜ Significant role of social workers
ÜÜ High investments on Response
en
ev
eS
Pr
ys
te
m

will have to be channeled to direct engagement with
communities, organizing communities, and providing
them with information, knowledge, and the tools to
address protection concerns to eliminate harm to
children.
8 »» Adapted from Inverting the Pyramid: Enhancing Systems for Protecting Children; Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, 2008
6
 Organizing communities to protect children
…the family, as the fundamental group of
society and the natural environment for the
growth and well-being of all its members and
particularly children, should be afforded the
necessary protection and assistance so that it
can fully assume its responsibilities within the
community…
Preamble to the Convention on the Rights of
the Child (UN-CRC)
Developing critical awareness of one’s reality, or
the process of consientization, leads to increased
willingness and openness to take action to change
the reality9 . Awareness, therefore, is often the first
step towards preparing individuals and communities
to initiate action. While awareness is critical, resultant
action depends upon having the necessary tools
to take actions based on this awareness. Accurate
information, availability of resources, and established
accountability mechanisms can facilitate necessary
action, and lead to a positive change. Across the world
and in India too, vibrant community-led movements
have addressed significant and daunting challenges
in a participatory and organized way. Issues that
communities can address together can be as diverse
as land and water issues, alcoholism and domestic
violence, and literacy and education.
Empowering Women: Experiences of SHGs
Membership of SHGs enhances women’s bargaining power and helps them negotiate with strength in
community institutions. Having knowledge of the broader context to their lives empowers women.
Women’s mutual support is a necessary condition for their empowerment. Individual women cannot
develop their potential or make their full contribution. The “mentoring” of other women by veteran SHG
member has helped to give supervision and assurance to other women who would else be browbeaten
by the system. Mentoring serves as a role model and takes away the isolation of being one of a few, as
one member says:
“I am also a member of this school committee. I have been a member since the past three years. If any
work is to be done in the school, they call me. I have been involved in the construction of schoolrooms...
The women complained that they do not get ration from the anganwadi worker meant for the
children…I got a resolution passed by the group. I told her (Anganwadi worker) that I will report you…
Now there is no such problem...There was a DPEP centre and I try to get the children enrolled in it, even
if it means leaving my own work. Now times have changed. Girls are going to school.”
Women’s Empowerment: Effect of Participation in Self Help Groups
DeeptiUmashankar, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore; 2006
(http://www.iimb.ernet.in/microfinance/Docs/Students/women%20empower%20Deepti.pdf)
9 »» Paolo Friere, Friere Institute
7
Article 39 of the Indian Constitution directs that
children should be given opportunities and facilities
to develop in a healthy manner in conditions of
freedom and dignity, and that childhood and youth
be protected against exploitation and against moral
and material abandonment. Research, anecdotal
evidence, and day-to-day experiences of violation
of children’s right to protection clearly indicate that
prevention is central to successful child protection,
and necessitates creating a protective environment
for children – in families, neighbourhoods, and
communities. This, however, requires awareness,
willingness, commitment and sustained efforts on part
of the community, and support from the government
and civil society alike.
A number of organizations have facilitated bringing
together communities to address issues of
education and child protection. The anti-child labour
movement, the anti-trafficking movement and the
anti-child marriage movement across the country
are notable, in terms of the strategies employed,
and their achievements. Such interventions though
implemented in limited geographic areas, have
displayed commonality of approach and strategy,
and have led to increased awareness and sensitivity
among communities; generation of demand from the
communities for education and protection; enhanced
abilities of families and communities to report violation
of children’s rights; and enhanced accountability on
part of service providers, towards effective delivery of
services.
These experiences have significantly contributed to
thinking that communities, when organized together
as child protection committees, would wield a wide
influence amongst its members on the need to protect
children, and to demand for systems and services
that prevent and respond to violence, abuse and
exploitation of children. ICPS provides for setting up
of child protection committees (CPC) at the village and
block levels to address child protection concerns and
to take steps to address and prevent them.
8
Phases and Steps in the Formation
and Functioning of CPCs

Phase I – Plan for entry into the community
The focus in this phase is to initiate discussions on child
protection, ICPS and the need for setting up communitybased child protection committees. This phase also
involves the identification of grassroots NGOs, who
can play the role of facilitators in the formation and
functioning of CPCs. Phase I includes the following
steps:
Phase
I
Initiation of
discussion with
State and district
administration
Identification of
NGOs working in
the district and
sub-district level
and training of
Project Teams
to facilitate in
setting up of
CPCs
Identification
of existing
programmes
as entry points
to initiate
conversations in
communities
Phase
II
9
 Initiation of discussion with state and district administration
In Tami Nadu, initial discussions were held
with the State Department of Labour,
and UNICEF entered into a partnership
for the implementation of an Integrated
Child Protection Program (ICPP)10 . UNICEF
dovetailed the National Child Labour Project
(NCLP) with the State Government and
obtained the support of NCLP staff while
initiating its programs in the districts of Salem
and Dharmapuri.
Discussions are initiated with the state government
and the district administration to emphasize the
importance of child protection. Child protection is also
explained in the context of the JJA 2000 and ICPS.
These interactions are conducted across as many
departments as possible. Multi-sector interactions
and discussions not only help create linkages and
convergence among departments 11 at the district and
sub-district level, but also helps in identifying existing
programmes and interventions to dovetail upon while
initiating conversations in the community.
 Identification of NGOs working in the district and sub-district level and
training of project teams to facilitate in setting up of CPCs
Identification of organizations to facilitate the process
of setting up and strengthening CPCs is a critical
step. The most favourable organizations to play this
role are those with extensive experience in rural
development at the village level. These organizations
have strong relationships with communities and the
local administration. They may or may not have had
prior experience working directly with children or on
child rights issues. Having an NGO as a facilitator is
advantageous because the trust and confidence of the
community in the NGO, gained over years, help create
community willingness to discuss child protection
issues, which are often met with resistance. There
is also scope to leverage on the other programmes/
activities of the NGO in the community which could
provide critical resources which include people,
infrastructure and funds. In the initial phase, the NGO
plays a key role as the driver of CPC formation; later,
once the CPC is formed, it takes the role of a facilitator,
and as the CPCs begin to function and stabilize, its
role should change to that of a monitor and catalyst
(Refer Chapter 0 for the phase-wise role of the NGOs
as facilitators).
10 »» ICPP is a UNICEF programme which was launched in 2009 in Tamil Nadu and was implemented in select districts.
11 »» Education Department and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Deaprtment of Health and Family Welfare and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM),
Department of Labour and Employment, Department of Women and Child Development, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment,
Department of Social Welfare, , and Department and Panchayati Raj and Rural Development
10
 Identification of existing programmes as entry points to
initiate conversations in communities
Finding neutral entry points through
government schemes, welfare and
development programs, projects, existent
committees and groups/clubs such as the
Nehru Yuva Kendra12 youth clubs and NCLP
seen in Tamil Nadu, and SHGs anchored
by NGOs seen in Maharashtra and Gujarat
have served as effective bridges into the
communities.
12 »» http://www.nyks.org/About%20Us.html
In most of the villages children’s issues had not yet
been addressed by communities. In this context,
dovetailing on existing programmes to initiate
conversations in communities and including issues
positioned in a certain manner, e.g., “out-of-school
children” is a useful strategy to introduce child
protection. Leveraging the NGO programs enables
identification of the most active and concerned
committees/bodies/officials and individuals in the
community, whose support may be elicited at a
later stage as members of the CPC or for mobilizing
community resources for programmes.
11

Phase II - Preparing communities for child protection
The focus in this phase is to lay the foundation for child
protection work in the village by obtaining a consensus
from the community, and establishing the need for
CPCs at the village level.
Phase
II
Gathering
information
related to
children
Sharing
findings of
baseline survey/
child specific
information
Selection,
appointment
and training of
volunteers
Initiating
Children’s
Groups,
Adolescent Girls’
Groups and
Youth Groups
Phase
III
 Gathering information related to children
Information gathering processes such as a baseline
survey provides evidence which establishes the need
for the community to focus on child protection, and
helps map out and locate children’s vulnerabilities and
needs. An analysis of information also indicates the
level of change required to be brought, and provides a
starting point for child protection. In many places need
for and planning of the baseline survey was discussed
at the village level with Panchayat members and village
workers including the AWW, teachers, ANM and others.
In Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu, a door-to-door survey was
conducted wherein child specific data (Basic demographic data; presence, access to services (health,
education ) was collected by the project teams with volunteers identified by the Panchayat to
support the baseline survey. In West Bengal, this door-to-door survey was conducted following the
CPC formation. Also, the survey was conducted by the CPC members. Through this process the CPC
members became directly aware of the magnitude of the issues that confronted them, especially
with regard to trafficking that was prevalent in the village. For instance, members of a CPC in North 24
Paraganas district, through the survey, identified 21 girls that were trafficked from the village over the
last six years. This motivated them, even more, to focus their attention on the issue of trafficking and
to demand awareness, on the same, from the lead NGO.
12
 Sharing findings of baseline survey/child specific information
The findings are shared with the Panchayat, district
administration and the community. They enable
prioritization and planning of activities. It also serves
as a building block towards convergence of services
and resources at the village level. Quantitative data
provides evidence of CP issues. It helps in getting
communities to recognise the need to understand CP
and undertake activities to make their communities
safe and protective. Qualitative data on attitude
and perceptions facilitate strategy and planning of
activities.
In Salem district, Tamil Nadu, the baseline survey indicated the number of child marriage cases. It
enabled the education department realize the need to make communities aware of the importance of
education and the legislation that prohibits child marriage. The department of education and the DRDA
immediately undertook production of IEC material (pamphlets) that was distributed by the village link
volunteers to the community. In both Salem and Dharmapuri districts of Tamil Nadu, the baseline survey
findings were also shared with members of the community at the time of announcement and launch of
the CPC.
CASE STUDY
In Sanghavi, a village in Yavatmal district in Maharashtra, the findings of the baseline survey
conducted indicated that nine girls in their early teens had dropped out-of-school. It was
discussed at the training of the volunteers. Further enquiry revealed that the girls dropped
out-of-school because
(i) there was no secondary school in the village
(ii) the closest secondary school was in the adjacent village and there was no safe and convenient means of transportation to enable the girls get there.
The issue was presented before the Beat Officer (BO) and State Transport Depot Manager
of the area. Ascertaining the need for transport through a survey, the authorities started a
bus service between the two villages. This motivated not only the parents of the nine girls
who had dropped out but even other parents to send their children to the secondary school
in the adjacent village. This positive action on the part of the State, gave confidence to
members of the community. They began to raise other child protection related matters with
the village volunteers. These included child labour, school drop outs, child marriage and
malnutrition.
13
 Selection, appointment and training of volunteers
Volunteers , mostly youth, are selected from each
village to play the role of village-level ambassadors,
and to anchor the child protection activities in the
village. Belonging to the communities in which they
work, these young people are insightful on attitudes
and traditions that prevail in their communities. These
insights guide and inform the volunteers to determine
the path of discussions, activities undertaken, and
communication material developed. Across some
states, volunteers have been selected as part of the
project teams. These volunteers are selected with
the support of the Panchayat – at times during a
Gram Sabha meeting, which provides the volunteers
a mandate from the village. Volunteers are unpaid
positions. Trainings for the volunteers selected on
developmental issues with special focus on child
protection are carried out at various intervals,
including in the initial phase of the project (Refer to
the role of Volunteers in the next section).
 Initiating children’s groups, adolescent girls’ groups and youth groups
Children’s groups, adolescent girls’ groups and
youth groups are important platforms to empower
these key stakeholders by generating awareness
about their rights, and by informing them about the
benefits of having a collective voice. Children’s and
adolescent girls’ groups are formed in the states,
where comprehensive community-based interventions
are implemented, and play a vital catalytic role in the
community processes. It is positive to observe that
that the groups are growing outwards to include nonschool going children from the community.
CASE STUDY
The family of Bhagyasree, a sixteen-year-old girl from Kothaloni village, Assam, had
accepted a marriage proposal for her. The awareness she had gained being a member
of the adolescent girls’ group on the implications of early marriage and of the protection
she had under PCMA gave her the courage to stand up against it. When her attempts to
persuade her family failed, she informed the adolescent girls group of which she was a
member, who in turn informed the local CPC. Some CPC members visited Bhagyasree’s
home, apprised the family of the implications of early marriage, and the importance of her
continuing education. Bhagyasree's family was not convinced. But they were persuaded to
attend the next CPC meeting. At this meeting they were informed of the law relating to
child marriage. Bhagyasree’s father then made a written commitment to abide by the law
and not to get his daughter married before she attained the age of 18 years and without
her consent.
13 »» For the purpose of this report volunteers refer to youth interested in development issues, committed to ensure safe spaces for children. These
volunteers have observed to be in the 20-35 age categories.
14

Phase III - Formation of Child Protection Committees (CPC)
In Phase III the focus is on identifying, sensitizing and
training CPC members on CP and their role in creating a
protective net for children.
Phase
III
Formal
Communication
from DM/DC to
the head of the
Panchayat
Identification of
CPC members of
CPC
Training of CPC
members
Operational
aspects of CPC
Phase
IV
 Formal communication from DM/DC to the head of the panchayat
In Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, state orders
have been issued by the Department of
Panchayati Raj and Department of Women
and Child Development respectively for
formation of block level and village level CPCs
A formal communication from the DM/DC seeks
support from the head of the Panchayat for the
constitution and functioning of CPC at the village
and block level. It outlines the need for the CPC and
specifies who the members of the CPC should be.
Based on this letter the head of the Panchayat directs
the formation of the CPC at the village. The recognition
given by the district administration to the CPC gives
them more validity and confidence to demand action
from various departments and institutions. Such
communication at the time of formation of the CPC
was received from the DC in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil
Nadu and the district office of the Department of
Women and Child Development in Maharashtra.
15
 Identification of members of CPC
ICPS - Every village shall have a Child Protection Committee under the Chairpersonship of the village level
elected representative (Head of the Gram Panchayat) to recommend and monitor the implementation
of child protection services at the village level. The committee shall include two child representatives,
a member of the DCPS, anganwadi workers, school teachers, auxiliary nurse midwives, as well as
respected village members and civil society representatives.
It has been observed that states mostly meet the ICPS
criterion on who should be included as part of the CPC.
As observed the CPC includes the aganwadi worker
across all states, so also the Panchayat President.
It is important to involve those people who are
directly involved in and concerned with the affairs
of the community. In the tea gardens of Assam the
Welfare Officer recruited for each tea estate (under the
Plantations Labour Act, 1951)plays the role of the chief
functionary of the CPC, and represents the tea estate
management on the committees
All CPCs have representation from schools; this may
be through the presence of the school headmaster or
teacher. Further, it was observed that all states have
child/youth/both representatives as members of its
CPC. In Tamil Nadu, issues raised by children at the
Children’s Parliament are presented by the Village Link
Volunteer, who is a member of the CPC.
In Rajasthan, representatives from DCPU have now
been included as members of CPC. One of the possible
reasons for absence of DPCU representatives in CPCs
in other states could be the fact that DCPS are only
now in the process of being formed.
Attempts have also been made to include individuals
who have statutory recognition14 and individuals who
are recognised owing to the committees/groups15 they
represent. The right mix of individuals help CPCs to
remain active, especially at a stage where there is a
limited formality (unlike SMCs) and profile available
to CPCs. Conscious efforts to ensure representation
from all sections of the community is also important to
address issues of social inclusion and equity.
14 »» Panchayat Secretary and VRO in Andhra Pradesh; Panchayat Secretary and Village Administrative Officer in Tamil Nadu; Village Mitanin in
Chhattisgarh, President/Secretary of Labour Union in Assam, Parents in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, Gram Sevakin Maharashtra,
VRO and Ward Panchayat Representive in Rajasthan
15 »» Representative from mothers club and community mobilizer in Assam; SHG representative, village volunteer and dairy cooperative
representative in Gujarat; SHG representative, village volunteer, representative from Tanta Mukta Samiti (Conflict Resolution Committee),
representative from farmers cooperative and police patil in Maharashtra; Child Welfare Officer in Rajasthan; SHG representative and village
volunteer in Tamil Nadu; SHG representative and rehabilitated trafficker in West Bengal
16
In Andhra Pradesh, identifying village officials on the basis of their statutory responsibility have included
the Panchayat Secretary and the VRO as members in the CPC, as the former is responsible for issuing
birth certificates and the latter is entrusted with responsibility of issuing Marriage Certificates.
While every state has representation from the school, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan have made
a conscious attempt to include a SMC member in addition to the teacher/headmaster. By having an SMC
member in CPC issues raised with regard to the school get speedier attention;
Out of the nine states four found value in including the SHG representative and three in having a village
volunteer as members of the CPC. It is interesting to observe that West Bengal has identified and
consciously attempted at including the rehabilitated trafficker (an individual who was previously a
trafficker) in the village to be a member.
17
 Training of CPC members
Child protection issues are complex, and initiating
discussions on the same becomes especially difficult
when such issues are not recognised as concerns.
Creating awareness, sensitizing the members on the
issues, and informing them on their role through
training and capacity building workshops becomes
necessary. In a number of cases, select members
of each CPC are trained at a district/block level
programme organized by the lead NGO and UNICEF.
Such training programmes are normally conducted
for approximately 40 CPC members from 20 villages.
In some states, this training is considered to be a TOT
programme, where these members will go back to
their villages and orient other member of the CPC
with the help of the trained youth volunteers and
NGO representatives of that village. The lead NGO
village representatives also provide a lot of informal
orientation and guidance to the CPCs on daily basis
through phone calls and during monthly visit to the
villages. In some cases, e.g., in Tamil Nadu, the entire
CPCs were provided training at the village level.
The content of the training includes concepts of child
rights, child protection, the UNCRC, excerpts from the
baseline study, and case study analysis and discussion,
role of CPC members.
 Operational aspects of CPC
Certain guidelines and rules ensure regular and
effective functioning of a committee. These guidelines
would not only bring structure but would also ensure
that the committee does not move away from its
primary goal. On the basis of the documentation
provided by the states and discussion certain
operational aspects of the CPC have been highlighted
below.
ÜÜ CPC must meet on a monthly basis on a fixed date
and time and have a pre-decided agenda
ÜÜ Presence of 2/3rd of members necessary for
decisions of the CPC meeting to be valid16
ÜÜ The CPC needs to have a procedure for conduct,
withdrawal and termination of its member
16 »»
17 »»
ÜÜ Annual evaluation of the CPC to be facilitated by the
lead NGO17
ÜÜ All meetings must be documented in a structured
format so as to ensure that issues are acted on/
referred to the concerned stakeholder and
followed-up on in the next meeting
ÜÜ The CPC reports to the village panchayat and gaon
panchayat sabha on the issues of protection faced
by the village/GP and report actions initiated by the
committee to address the concerns
ÜÜ The CPC maintains a tracking register in which
information related to children in the village (age,
school going, gender, vulnerability, special needs
etc.) is stored
Rules and Regulations have been formulated for CPCs in West Bengal
A CPC self-evaluation tool has been created. The evaluation is conducted on a quarterly basis. A similar evaluation is conducted of the grassroot
organisations by the lead NGO to assess its performance.
18

Phase IV: Functioning of the CPC
In order to ensure effective functioning of CPCs,
certain key programmatic areas as identified below are
focussed on.
Convergence
Awareness on child
rights and child
protection issues
Programmatic
Areas of CPC
Intervention
The CPC have been formed through rigorous and
intensive processes. However, they are still nascent
in their functioning. Outlined below is a case study of
the functioning of the CPC in Kurnool district, Andhra
Pradesh, which demonstrates how the CPC takes
proactive steps towards addressing child protection
issues.
19
CASE STUDY
Upperapally is a village in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh with close to 50% population
belonging to the backward community and 30% to the scheduled castes. The baseline
survey found that 20 children were employed/out-of-school (OSC), while still others, mostly
girls were dropping of school out as the high school was 4 km away and there was no
transport. Many families migrate annually to Guntur and Kadapa in search of work. Close to
26 child marriages took place in the last one year.
The facilitator NGO undertook an awareness campaign using the findings of the baseline
survey in their discussions. As the awareness creation and sensitization on child rights issues
continued, the community began recognize the relevance of a committee dedicated to
address children’s issues. The training provided to the CPC, not only sensitized them on
what constitutes a CP violation but they learned how to deal with the issue.
The CPC took up each issue identified by the baseline survey.
ÜÜ The issue of child labour was addressed with families through a door to door campaign
families were informed of the importance of education.
ÜÜ Children out-of-school were enrolled and their retention is being monitored.
ÜÜ The issue of girl children dropping out because of the extensive distance to be travelled
to the high school was partly resolved by the distribution of bicycles for some children
and arranging an auto-rickshaw to pick and drop the others.
ÜÜ Through the continual awareness created on child marriage, 9 child marriages were
stopped. Following a series of discussion between CPC members and NREG officials and
door to door campaign.
ÜÜ SSA funds were obtained to ensure water and toilet facilities in the school.
 Programmatic areas of CPC
The role of the CPC as is seen in Chapter 0presents
how the CPC’s primary goal is to create a protective
environment that anticipates and prevents child
rights violations. Through interactive methods that
include dialogue, orientation, community recreation
programmes, it brings together families, service
providers, and duty bearers for the protection and
safety of children. Some programmatic areas that
can be taken up by the CPC on an ongoing basis are
enumerated as under :
ÜÜ Awareness on child rights and child protection issue
ÜÜ Intervention in specific cases of violation of
children’s rights
ÜÜ Convergence
20
Awareness on child rights and child protection issue
Creating awareness on subjects related to
development and protection of children is necessary to
ensure that the community is familiar and sensitized,
and is able to identify protection concerns.
All CPCs start with child rights awareness programmes.
At the initial phase, these are facilitated by NGOs.
Careful attention is paid to ensure that these activities
are sensitive to the local culture, and have messages
targeted to all members of the community including
youth, women, children, and the elderly. Through
these awareness activities the CPC and its role is
publicised in the community.
In Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, Kalajatha
(street theatre) was used to create awareness
among the people, village and mandal
level officials. The skits and songs made
an emotional connection to the people.
Wall writings and IEC material were used
extensively to disseminate key messages on
child labour and child marriages. They also
conducted meetings and discussions with
important stakeholders, to share findings of
the base line survey and facilitating the action
required.
In Vadodara, Gujarat at six-monthly intervals,
3 continuous days of child rights are observed
to keep child protection issues in focus.
‘NanhaiHaathKalam Kai Saath” campaign
which ran from 2010-12 to created awareness
on the harm and implication of migration and
working as child labourers on the BT cotton
fields in Gujarat.
Intervention in specific cases of violation of children’s rights
The CPC’s role is to create a preventive net for
ensuring that rights of the child are not violated,
and, that immediate action is taken if and when
the child falls out of the protection net. Since the
members of the CPC are entirely drawn from the
village community, they are best positioned to make
early detection of cases of child rights violation and
take necessary action including reporting the matter
to the concerned authorities and following up on the
same. The CPC should provide support and guidance
to children’s families to ensure that cases are taken up
appropriately with the concerned authorities. Routine
visits to schools, health care centres, and homes of
children would keep members informed of children’s
issues that need attention and action.
At the CPC meeting convened, it was decided to
S’s is a case in which information that she was
trafficked was gathered in the course of a routine visit
by the village volunteer. This volunteer immediately
alerted and shared the information with CPC members.
Following up and to ensure that Sheila does’nt get
trafficked again, the child was enrolled in the lead
NGO’s activity centre. Later, she was mainstreamed in
Government School.
ÜÜ take the help of a rehabilitated trafficker in the
village and
ÜÜ visit the parents to gather any additional
information.
Taking action the CPC
ÜÜ visited and reassured the parents of S’s return
ÜÜ pressurised the trafficker who had trafficked Sheila
to divulge her whereabouts
ÜÜ informed the Police and formed a rescue team and
ÜÜ rescued Sheila from the residence where she was
put to work at in Kolkatta and brought her back
home.
21


Gathering all relevant information
in a timely manner, and with
regularity is vital to understanding
key child protection concerns.
S a 13 yr old girl from Jelepara village, West Bengal
was identified as missing on the routine survey
rounds conducted by the village volunteer. On
enquiring the volunteer was informed of how S
being taken to Kolkatta by a certain individual and all
contact with her was lost.


Systematic follow-up of all the
cases of child protection ensures
that all children in the community
are protected at all times.
S was restored to her parents and enrolled
in the lead NGO’s activity centre. Later she
was mainstreamed in a Government School.
Please Note: The picture in the centre has no relationship with the case study mentioned here.
Listen,
Observe,
Question
Follow up
22
Sharing all the gathered
information with key stakeholders
helps in planning a course of
action in the best interests of
children


Share
The village volunteer informed the CPC of the same and of
how the trafficker had duped S’s parents on the pretext
that she would have a good life in Kolkatta and for a paltry
sum of money that he gave them.
Decide


Collective decisions with a sense
of urgency results in an agreement
on actions to be taken, and the
roles of stakeholders
The village CPC discussed and decided to
ÜÜ take the help of a rehabilitated trafficker in the
village
ÜÜ visit the parents to gather any additional
information.
Act


Organized, systematic, and
prompt actions in the best
interests of the child results in
protection of children
The CPC members visited the parents and reassured them that they would help
in getting S back. They visited and pressurised the trafficker who had trafficked
S. CPC members informed the local police, and police, along with CPC members
formed a rescue team. S was rescued by the team from the residence where she
had been put to work and exploited and brought back to the village
23
Convergence
In Kunool district, Andhra Pradesh on the
basis of the feedback on school sanitation
issues from the CPCs a survey was initiated
in nearly 400 schools. The findings of this
survey on school sanitation were used at
various state level advocacy forums. This
resulted in the formation of state and district
level school sanitation task forces. Further it
also led to the idea of linking the same with
MGNREGA programme on school sanitation
issues. Presently the NREGA Department,
Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh is in the process of
developing plans to support school sanitation
in Kurnool district
As mentioned earlier, for CPCs to become an integral
part of a comprehensive child protection system as a
primary prevention mechanism, they have to remain
in sync with the secondary and tertiary structures,
which focus on providing more support and intensive
interventions to fewer children and families.
The CPC would function most effectively when it works
in a convergent manner with other existing village
groups and committees, government authorities /
departments-education, health labour, women
and child, social justice/welfare, and panchayati raj,
statutory structures and services under the JJA and
ICPS.
In practice, this would mean that CPC members will not
only be able to undertake work on primary prevention
– e.g., prevention of child labour, but will also be
able to identify and link vulnerable families to social
protection schemes, and be able to work with the
response system to effectively restore and reintegrate
children with their families by establishing formal
follow-up loops with the response system.
24
Role of Stakeholders
This section summarizes the key roles played
by various stakeholders during the process of
formation and functioning of CPCs. Majority of the
roles mentioned here have been identified through
discussions with stakeholders.

The role of NGO as a facilitator
 Phase I – Plan, Ideate, Advocate
NGO-self preparation:
Introductory Meetings:
To undertake internal preparation-organize human
resources (project team), prepare team for the
activities to follow-read up on ICPS, JJA other relevant
literature on child protection, train and brief team on
meetings, content of conversations, put a tentative18
plan in place
To convene initial introductory meetings with
stakeholders of the community to: orient them to
the need for and meaning of child protection in
the community; to gain their buy in, support and
leadership for setting up and functioning of CPC; and
to seek their support in specific areas as enumerated in
the table below:
Stakeholder
District Collector
Panchayat Members
Village workers
Youth groups
Purpose
ÜÜ To obtain a letter from the DM recognizing CPC as part of ICPS,
and to elicit support for formulation of CPC.
ÜÜ To nominate/suggest members to the CPC
ÜÜ Introduce the baseline survey to the community
ÜÜ To get community to support in the form of financial resources
and people for the baseline survey
ÜÜ Elicit support for baseline survey
ÜÜ Identify potential members for CPC
ÜÜ Support for identification of youth volunteers
ÜÜ Identify individuals who could take a position on issues and
influence opinion of the community
ÜÜ Elicit participation in activities of CPC
ÜÜ Support in data collection for baseline survey
ÜÜ Identification of potential youth child protection volunteers
ÜÜ Organizing CP awareness and other programs
ÜÜ Potential members of CPC
18 »» Even though the pace of activity will be determined by the response of the community, the NGO must have a tentative plan outlining timelines
for activities in place
25
 Phase II – Preparing communities for child protection
Conduct Baseline
Survey: The baseline
survey is conducted
under the guidance of
UNICEF
Developing village
level teams of child
protection volunteers
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
Formulation of tools
Data collection by NGO team and volunteers of the community
Data Analysis and report presentation
Presentation of findings of data to the Panchayat members, district administration
and community members
ÜÜ Selection and appointment of a team of 2-4 volunteers depending on the size of
the village
ÜÜ Training of volunteers on basics of child rights, understanding of child protection,
facilitation of children’s groups, documentation
ÜÜ Creating a plan of activities for volunteers
Formation of children’s ÜÜ Guide volunteers to identify children for the group
ÜÜ Work out logistics of the group along with volunteers-place, date and time of
and adolescent girl’s
meeting, documentation of discussions, refreshments if any
groups
ÜÜ Develop discussion guidelines, activities to be undertaken by the group
ÜÜ Guide volunteers on how to facilitate structuring of the group, leadership roles
from among the children, plan for follow-up on activities, and issues taken up by
the children
ÜÜ Guide volunteers to facilitate interface between children and duty bearers.
 Phase III: Formation of CPCs
Formal communication
from DC/DM: The letter
from the DM to the
Panchayat head must
be obtained prior to
formation of the CPC
Finalization of
membership of CPC
Announcement of CPC
ÜÜ Brief on CPC and its role
ÜÜ Request to Panchayat head to convene and chair the committee
ÜÜ Provide a list of who the members should be
Assist CPC to
organize awareness
programmes
ÜÜ Give ideas on nature of programs
ÜÜ Encourage CPC to formulate a plan of action
ÜÜ Facilitate planning and coordination between CPC, CP volunteers, village workers,
children’s and youth groups
ÜÜ Be present for awareness programs
Training of CPC
members
ÜÜ The whole CPC at the village level or some of them at the district level
ÜÜ Training content -basic orientation to child rights, child protection, findings of
baseline survey, role of CPC and developing of a CP plan for the village
Facilitate operational
aspects of the CPC
ÜÜ Ensure that CPC meets on a monthly basis on a fixed date and time.
ÜÜ Help CPC develop a TOR including their role, code of conduct, quorum and
decision making
ÜÜ Attend all monthly meetings in years 1&2 after formation of CPC
ÜÜ Create a template for setting the agenda, and recording of decisions, and ensure
that there is a register for the same.
ÜÜ Facilitate discussions for the first few meetings till they get used to the desired
format of discussions.
ÜÜ Meet the Panchayat head to discuss final list of members
ÜÜ Meet members if additional convincing is necessary
ÜÜ At the Gram Panchayat meeting
ÜÜ Organize a separate program/combine with a community event to launch/
announce CPC
26
 Phase IV: Functioning of CPCs
Facilitate formulation of
annual plan for the CPC
ÜÜ Bring together some members of CPC, CP volunteers and children’s groups,
Childline 1098 and NGOs to formulate the plan
ÜÜ Members to present plan to head of CPC for approval at monthly meeting
ÜÜ Ensure discussion on mobilizing local resources for programs
Facilitate coordination
and communication
between
Ideate with the CPC and
infuse different thought
on
Facilitate review of CP on
a quarterly basis
ÜÜ CPC, youth volunteers and children’s groups
ÜÜ CPC and local administration (BDO, B/MO, DCPU, CWC etc.)
ÜÜ CPC and other development oriented committees
Update the Baseline
Survey
ÜÜ Systematize updating the baseline survey through dip stick surveys at a regular
interval.
ÜÜ Support CPC to undertake the same.
ÜÜ Analyse data and create reports.
Regular Training and
orientation
ÜÜ Formulate a training plan. Content should include protocols for action and
coordination, understanding issues and CP, data and documentation
ÜÜ Tie-ups with existing training programs can be explored. Training could be at
the village and district level for village frontline workers, Administration, CP
volunteers, Children’s groups, CPC members
ÜÜ Programmatic areas
ÜÜ Activities
ÜÜ Child rights issues
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
Activities and programs undertaken
Data of baseline survey
Coordination and convergence with other committees, schemes, and services
Cases intervened
Documentation of CPC
Monitoring of child rights ÜÜ Public dialogues
ÜÜ Public hearings on specific cases of violation
in the village: Build the
ÜÜ Social audit of CP services and system
desire, capacity and
mobilize communities to
demand CP through

Role of volunteers
ÜÜ Identify CP violation cases
ÜÜ Create awareness on child rights and CP in the
village
ÜÜ Continually interact with village officials and
members from other existent village committees
and keep them updated on child issues
ÜÜ Ensure functioning of Children’s and Youth groups
ÜÜ Document/ensure CPC minutes are recorded and
submitted regularly
27

Role of children’s group/s and adolescent girls/youth groups
ÜÜ Create awareness and ensure that children/
adolescents in the village are of these groups and
are aware of their rights
ÜÜ Provide a space where children/adolescents can
express themselves and raise issues that concern
them
ÜÜ Aid the village volunteer in identifying the out-ofschool children and other CP violations
ÜÜ Document the discussions from the Children’s/
Adolescents meetings
ÜÜ Ensure that issues that require the villages attention
is presented before the CPC
ÜÜ Act as watchdogs and to immediately raise an alarm/
complain to the village volunteer/CPC/ 1098/100 in
case of any child rights violation

Roles of CPC members
ÜÜ Creating awareness on child rights issues in the
village by
ĄĄ Initiating discussions/providing information
(Kalajatha/folk songs) on child issues in Gram
Sabha’s, SHG, adolescent girls groups, children’s
group forums, other committees existing at the
village level
ĄĄ Celebrating festivals and conducting events on
for eg –child labour day, women’s day, girl child
day, disability day etc
ÜÜ Ensuring the formation and regular functioning of
children’s and adolescent groups
ĄĄ Ensuring the groups meet regularly and children/
youth attend these meetings
ĄĄ Providing information on child rights and CP
issues
ĄĄ Guiding the groups especially in the initial phase
in terms of
• What needs to be discussed
• What is the role of these groups in the village
• How and whom the groups can report to in
case of any child rights violation
• Ensuring representation of 2 members from
each of these groups in the CPC
28
ÜÜ Keeping and regularly updating the data base of all
children in the village
ĄĄ To ensure that all new born children are
registered and get birth certificates
ĄĄ To ensure all out-of-school children are
mainstreamed
ĄĄ To track and assess those children that might be
vulnerable to early marriage, trafficking, child
labour, instances of discrimination and other
violations of child rights
ĄĄ To ensure no child marriage takes place
ÜÜ Rehabilitating child labourers /migrant labour/
orphan child etc through community support or the
available social protection schemes
ÜÜ Response to child rights violation
ĄĄ Ensuring a complaint is filed in the nearest police
station if a child is kidnapped, missing or is
suspected to be trafficked
ĄĄ Informing children about the action being taken
in case of any child rights violation
ĄĄ Escalate cases to CWC, DCPU, Police, Childline for
intervention
ĄĄ To ensure legal intervention in case of any
offence against a child that falls within the
purview of the IPC, JJA, POCSO, CLPRA and other
legislation.
ÜÜ Aiding/linking the vulnerable family’s access to
social protection schemes
ÜÜ Leverage local financial resources for CP activities
that may be drawn from panchayat funds, SSA,
WASH, ICPS, NREGA and others.
ÜÜ Regularly monitoring the village school, aganwadi,
health centre – infrastructure adequacy; human
resource availability and functioning etc
ÜÜ Maintaining contact with the other existent
committees in the village to ensure the issue of the
child is represented
ÜÜ Establishing contact and maintaining database of
institutions and organisations providing services
for orphans, disabled, vocational training; local
statutory body – CWC/JJB/CWOs; local CHILDLINE;
BCPC; DCPU
ÜÜ Advocacy and liaison with local administration/allied
departments etc.
ÜÜ Meeting every month to discuss and monitor CP/CR
situation & take appropriate action
ĄĄ To ensure the minutes of the meeting is
documented
ĄĄ To ensure that issues are acted on/ referred to
the concerned stakeholder and followed-up on in
the next meeting
ÜÜ Referring issues that cannot be addressed at the
Panchayat level to BLTF / DLTF for addressal.
29
Recommendations
In facilitating the formation of CPC across the
ten states, UNICEF played a key role in preparing
state governments, district administration and civil
society for setting up of the CPC. The experience
across different states has flagged certain issues
for thought and consideration while scaling up CPC
to all districts. The necessity of such a state level
facilitator, its role and who could play this role would
need thought. Similarly, the necessity and role of
civil society organizations as facilitators of CPC at
the district and sub-district level would be necessary.
Financial resources for long-term funding of facilitating
organizations would need to be provided for.
Some specific recommendations for formation and
functioning of CPC to the State and District Child
Protection Units and CSOs are outlined below:
 Systematize the process of setting up, functioning of CPC and
tracking of CP in the village:
A getting-started kit for setting up of CPC:
Acknowledging that any new initiative requires a
period of gestation and that localized adaptation of
tools would be necessary, the time taken to set up a
CPC can be brought down substantially if aided by a set
of standardized tools.
Develop guidelines for information gathering/baseline
survey:
A standardized system for developing and
updating the baseline survey at regular intervals is
recommended. Thought could be invested to see if the
baseline data could be linked to other official systems
of collection of data like the NFHS, Census etc.
Develop guidelines for selection and monitoring of
volunteers:
The process for selection, and monitoring of
volunteers needs spelt out clearly; modalities of roles
and relationships and coordination between CPC,
Panchayat, other committees, and contact NGO need
clarification for better effectiveness, frequency and
relevance of content in training of volunteers needs to
be reviewed.
30
Develop Guidelines on how to set up and ensure
regular effective functioning of Children’s Groups:
There needs to be tools to guide facilitators on setting
up and engaging with children’s groups. Children need
orientation on their rights, complaint mechanisms,
how they can be used, how they can address issues
and raise a collective voice, and their role as whistle
blowers in the community.
Annual plan for CPC and role transition of lead NGO:
Every CPC must have an annual plan against which
it can be evaluated. Such a plan must include
routine activities, training and exposure, continuous
awareness programs, annual events, routine planning
meetings and periodic review. The NGO must over a
period of time after the initial year of functioning of
the CPC, identify certain indicators of performance of
the CPC based on which, it can transition out of the
role of facilitator into a role of a catalyst mobilizing the
community to monitor the status of child rights, and
can function as a resource agency for awareness, and
capacity building.
Documentation and Record Keeping:
Standardized formats for recording minutes of
meetings, resolutions passed by CPCs, and developing
monitoring and tracking tools such as registers
will help CPCs document and monitor their own
work. In some states, such standard formats have
been developed, which should be shared widely for
adaptation and use across CPCs.
Financial Resources and budget for CPC and
facilitating NGOs under ICPS:
ICPS does not provide any funds for activities of
the CPC. In the absence of a budget the programs
are dependent on funds that can be allocated by
the facilitating NGO, government departments, and
panchayat budgets. The lead NGO also requires human
resources and would incur administrative costs which
need to be covered. Communication and awareness
also require budgets. The restrictions imposed by
the lack of funds throw plans into disarray, and demotivate individuals working in the field. A precedence
of active CPCs having demonstrated results would
present a strong case for advocacy for budgets for CPC
to be included in ICPS and elsewhere. In the interim
the DCPU budgets can be deployed for activities of the
CPC.
31
Awareness and Communication:
Awareness and communication on child protection is a
key area of work for the CPC and the facilitating NGO.
Communication style and messages must be adapted
to suit local culture and sensibility. Communication
needs to be strategic, and planned and phased in
its intensity. Resources would need to be set aside
for the same at the district and village level. The
CPC must have an annual plan for awareness and
communication. Campaigns would be more effective if
they are topical and respond to current cases of abuse
or violence taking place in the village, district or even
in other parts of the country. Awareness programs
must also integrate with other existing development
oriented awareness programs in the community.
Training for the CPC, its stakeholders and participants:
It is important to have an on-going system for
orientation and perspective building. The training
component for all stakeholders at the village level (CPC
members, Children’s groups, NGOs and CP volunteers)
needs to be standardized in allowing for local
adaptation in terms of content, periodicity, intensity,
and relevance of training content for different
stakeholders. The incorporation of technology to
widen the reach of high quality training must be
considered.
Child protection policy (CPP) and guidelines for CPC,
facilitating NGO and associates:
The CPC, facilitating NGO and associates (members,
NGOs, CP volunteers) would need to ensure child-safe
practices and procedure. A CPP would have to be
developed and made operational in all transactions
of the CPC and the facilitating NGO. The CPP must
also outline protocols for intervention and action for
the CPC in cases of CP violations in the community.
On-going orientation and training of all on the need
for the CPP and its implementation would need to be
conducted periodically.
Development of CP youth volunteers:
The village level CP volunteers are unpaid and mostly
unskilled youth. They are a critical link between the
community and the CPC. They would benefit from a
growth path that would enable them take forward
their work experience as CP youth volunteers. It could
include monetary incentive, training and certification,
scholarships to pursue higher studies, funding/loans to
set up their own enterprises, job opportunity in local
NGOs, DCPS, and Childline.
32
Conclusion
Act
Listen,
Observe,
Question
Share
The experience of formation of CPC has demonstrated
that the CPCs can be the community level hub of
a child protection system that weaves together a
protective network of family, community, and services,
which fortify children with a system that anticipates
and prevents child protection violations, and which
seamlessly works together in response to children who
are at risk or in unsafe situations, where their rights are
violated.
The CPC must emerge as the first point of contact in
the community for child protection. It needs to be
scaled up to cover all villages in the country; hinged
on to other components of a protective system
including and extending beyond the bodies19 that exist
under the ICPS and the JJA; roles and relationships
of different state and civil society entities, and
interdependencies between them to be determined at
Decide
Follow
Up
the village level and outwards; financial resources need
to be set aside for human resources and activities;
a plan and resources for capacity building of human
resource needs to be set in place.
Formation and strengthening of community-based
child protection committees will be a critical first steps
towards realizing the commitment made towards
creating a protective environment for all children in the
National Policy for Children, 201320. The Government
and civil society must move forward in unison to
establish child protection committees in a timely,
systematic and phased manner, over a finite period of
time, with active involvement and participation from
the community, families, and children.
19 »» Bodies that exist under JJA and ICPS=CWC, JJB, SJPU, Childline 1098, DCPU, SCPS, SCPC, DCPC, BCPC and CPC.
20 »» MWCD,2013.
33
Partnerships
State
Names of
District/s
ÜÜ Kurnool
ÜÜ Warangal
Lead Govt
Department
ÜÜ Department of
Women and Child
Welfare
NGOs/CBOs
Assam
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ District Rural
Development
Agency (DRDA)
in Dibrugarh.
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
Chhattisgarh
ÜÜ Sukma
ÜÜ Tribal Welfare
Department,
District
administration
ÜÜ MV Foundation (previous partnership)
Gujarat
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ Department of
ÜÜ Baroda Citizens Council
Social Justice and ÜÜ Pratikar Trust
Empowerment
ÜÜ Shroffs Foundation Trust
ÜÜ M G Patel Sarvodaya Kendra
ÜÜ Sahyog Pragati Mandal
ÜÜ Navrachna Mahila Vikas Trust
ÜÜ Anarde Foundation
ÜÜ Shree Vivekanand Research and Training InstituteKutch
ÜÜ Yusuf Meherally Centre
ÜÜ Gandhi Sevasharm, Kutch
ÜÜ Ganatar
ÜÜ Yoganjali Kelavani Mandal
ÜÜ Swami Vivekanand Sewa Trust- Patan
ÜÜ Ahmedabad Women’s Action Group
ÜÜ Mahiti Trust
ÜÜ Vivekanand Research and Training InstituteBhavnagar
ÜÜ Gram Nirman Samaj
ÜÜ Navjeevan Trust
ÜÜ Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (I)
ÜÜ Cohesion Foundation
ÜÜ Saurashtra Voluntary Action Rajkot
Karnataka
ÜÜ Raichur
ÜÜ Koppal
ÜÜ Department of
ÜÜ Jana Chaitanya
Women and Child
Development
Maharashtra
ÜÜ Jalna
ÜÜ Yavatmal
ÜÜ Department of
ÜÜ Yuva Vedh Manch
Women and Child ÜÜ Janseva Pratishthan
Development
ÜÜ Priyadarshani Mahila Gramin Kalyan Sanstha
ÜÜ Vikasganga Samajsevi Sanstha
ÜÜ Navvidya Bahuudeshiya Sanstha
ÜÜ Gramin Samasya Mukti Trust
ÜÜ Srujan
ÜÜ Jai Ambe
ÜÜ Society for Action in Creative Education and
Development (SACRED)
ÜÜ Swaraj
ÜÜ Madan Bahuudeshiya Sevabhavi Sanstha
ÜÜ Maharashtra Shikshan and Sanskrutik Mandal
Andhra
Pradesh
Dibrugarh
Kokrajhar
Sonitpur
Sibsagar
Tinsukia
Banaskantha
Bhavnagar
Kutch
Patan
Rajkot
Vadodara
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
M.V.Foundation, Hyderabad
Sramik VikasaKendram, Kurnool
Sadhana , Hyderabad
Tarangini, Warangal
MARI , Warangal
F.M.M.Sisters, Warangal
Assam Branch of India Tea Association (ABITA);
Bharatiya Cha Parishad (BCP);
Nedan Foundation;
North East Research and Social Work Networking
(NERSWN);
ÜÜ Assam Mahila Samata Society (AMSS)
34
State
Names of
District/s
ÜÜ Dungarpur
ÜÜ Udaipur
Lead Govt
Department
ÜÜ Department of
Socail Justice and
Empowerment /
Directorate for
Child Rights
Tamil Nadu
ÜÜ Dharmapuri
ÜÜ Krishnagiri
ÜÜ Salem
ÜÜ Department of
Labour
Uttar Pradesh
ÜÜ Jaunpur
ÜÜ Mirzapur
ÜÜ Sonebhadra
West Bengal
ÜÜ Jalpaiguri
ÜÜ Malda
ÜÜ North 24
Pargana
ÜÜ South 24
Pargana
Rajasthan
NGOs/CBOs
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
Jan Shikha Vikash Sangation
Kalpna Kalyan Sansthan
Rajasthan Bal Kalyan Sansthan
Bharuka Charitable Trust
UNNATI
Gayatri Seva Sansthan
Gandhi Manav Kalyan Sansthan
Mahan Seva Sansthan
ÜÜ Department of
Labour
ÜÜ Department of
WCD
ÜÜ Department of
Home Affairs
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
Azad Shiksha Kendra
Vatsalya
Poorvanchal Gramin Vikas Sansthan
People’s Action for National Integration
AIM
BETI Foundation
Krishi Shaikshik Evam Prabandh Sanstha
Janak Samiti
Dr. Shmbhunath Singh Research Foundation
Manav Sewa Kendra
Azad Shiksa Kendra
Sahbhagi Gramin Vikas Samiti
Mahila Prabodhni Foundation
Manviya Drishtkone Seva Samiti
CREDA
Arthik AnushandhanKenda
Manviya Sansdan Evam Mahilla Vikas Sansthan
PACE
Swarg
Sarthak
NEED
SAI JYOTI
Duddhi Gramin Vikas Sansthan
Gram Swaraj Samati
Banwasi Seva Ashram
Children Welfare Society
ÜÜ Department of
WCD
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
ÜÜ
BalRaksha, Bharat
Dhagagia Social Welfare Society
Sunderban Social Development Society
Bulbulchandi and Barind Development Society
Rural Aid
35
 Child Protection Committees – changing attitudes, shaping perspectives
In more than 10,000 villages across ten states, child protection committees have taken a proactive role
in preventing child marriage and child labour, enrolment of children in schools, and addressed complex
and sensitive issues such as sexual violence against children. As these committees come of age, members
demonstrate openness to dialogue and increased awareness. As a result, communities adapt positive
attitudes, and identify themselves as key stakeholders to address protection concerns of children.
The Village Child Protection Committee in Mednikhar
village includes panchayat members, teachers, the
Anganwadi worker, the ANM and ASHA, parents
and children’s representatives. A team from UNICEF
visited the village and participated in one of the CPC
meetings, which happen once every three months,
and as required. After regular stocktaking related to
education and protection of children from the village,
discussions take a sudden turn – a member comes
forward to ask the visiting UNICEF team, “Tell us, what
you think about the heinous Delhi gang-rape case of
16th December 2013? I believe one of the perpetrators
is a 17 year old boy… why should he be not treated as
an adult given the nature of crime?” The discussions
continue for a while. Opinions are shared and views
are expressed. Almost all display an inquisitive attitude
and openness, rather than being judgmental – a stark
contrast from what we saw on live television debates.
Members try to understand the background of the
boy, and the vulnerabilities of young children who
migrate to cities in search of work. As the discussions
came to a close, one member says emphatically,
“at the end of the day, as parents and community,
we are responsible for protecting our children,
and to ensure that they are not exposed to such
vulnerabilities that drive them towards crime ”.
36
01
Prevention
Prevention is at the heart of protecting
children from violence, exploitation,
and abuse
02
Empowerment
Information and knowledge about child
protection leads to empowerment of
Individuals to become the catalysts for
change and action
03
Organization
Communities when organized are more
eqippued and influencial to address
common concerns
04
Recognition
Recognition from District Child
Protection Units motivate communities
and CPCs to understand the
siginifcance of their roles
05
Diversity
Diverse roles of community members,
such as PRIs, teachers, health workers,
anganwadi workers, make them
important stakeholders
06
Collaboration
NGOs and CSOs are valuable and
critical partners to promote and
strengthen child protection in
communities
37
United Nations Children’s Fund
73 Lodi Estate
New Delhi – 110 003
E-mail: newdelhi@unicef.org

Preventive Strategies for Child Protection

Transcription

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