UNICEF Training of gender focal points- Inception Plan(Child Protection Presentation).pptx

Programs on Child Protection

1. UNICEF Country Office for Pakistan Child Protection Section Pathways to Equality

2. Background Child Protection is the prevention of, and response to, exploitation, abuse, neglect, harmful practices and violence against children. It is embedded in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals. Child Protection is universal: it is for all children everywhere, from low- to high-income countries. The consequences of Child Protection violations are catastrophic – profound, enduring and often deadly for children – and with economic costs of violence against children estimated at $7 trillion per year globally. At UNICEF, we believe that every child has the right to grow up free from violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect and harmful practices. That is why child protection is a cornerstone of our work. We work with governments, businesses, civil society organizations and other partners to prevent violence against children and support survivors, including with mental health and psychosocial counselling. We also work with communities to end harmful practices such as child marriage.

3. It is stoppable Child protection violations are preventable: progress can be made through political will, societal change and an emerging science of prevention and treatment strategies. Turning the tide on , abuse, neglect, harmful practices and violence against children., calls upon every sector of society —governments, media… — to work together and invest in children. This includes scaling-up preventative and responsive health-care services, violence prevention and case detection, and mental health services, all delivered at the community level. It includes ensuring universal access to safe schools. And it includes putting child protection at the heart of economic plans and priorities. It is also about changing minds in our families, homes and communities. Progress on violence depends on making some fundamental changes in social norms, attitudes and behaviours , particularly towards girls and women .

4. Our ambition is to scale up evidence-based prevention approaches to the population level – not only in the core Child Protection sectors of Social Welfare and Justice, but also in Education, Health, Social Protection and other sectors with strong and clear accountabilities to deliver child protection outcomes. This includes universal access to justice, to family and parenting support, to safe schools and to safety online, as well as universal adoption of transformative norms and values. UNICEF is also working to ensure no child is left behind : we work with partners to target interventions on children at greatest risk of child protection violations. These include children in humanitarian/crisis settings, children with disabilities, children deprived of parental care, and children experiencing other forms of discrimination and exclusion. Where children are experiencing violations, UNICEF will work with partners to strengthen access to response services to prevent recurrence and provide care, support and justice . What UNICEF is doing - overall

5. A closer Look at UNICEF Pakistan Work We are supporting provincial Governments to generate data on child labor and turn that evidence in policy and costed action plans. We are supporting Governments at all levels to increase the rate of birth registration to meet SDG commitments. This involves implementing strategic reforms aimed at eliminating fees for families and streamlining the process for greater accessibility. We are working with industry, governments, parents and other caregivers, educators, children and young people to ensure a safer online environment .

6. A closer Look at UNICEF Pakistan Work Continue… We are supporting provincial Governments to train social workers and other frontline workers who are working children who have experienced abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence. We are providing expert technical guidance to Government on legal and policy reforms on key child protection issues such as child marriage. We are promoting reforms to prevent unnecessary family-child separation, while also protecting children without parental care to ensure high-quality, appropriate alternative care ; recognizing the harm caused by institutional care.

7. A closer Look at UNICEF Pakistan Work Continue… We are developing innovative approaches to enhance community-based mental health and psychosocial support services and parenting programmes. Child Online Protection: Face to face interventions with adolescents, caregiver and educators and also through digital engagement (Evidence generation and social listening) Awareness campaign and promoting dialouge on Child Marriage and VAC lead by NCSW MHPSS: SHAMS( Self-care and hope through adolescent-led mental health and psychosocial support project-Adolescent Led MHPSS(Social Listening, IoGT , face to face and digital engagement https://pk.goodinternet.org/en/

8. © UNICEF/UN0236701/Brow None of this can succeed without partnerships—like the ones that have brought us together today. Working closely with governments and leveraging the role of media is crucial in advancing our child protection agenda. Together, through strong partnerships and collaborative efforts, we can make meaningful strides towards safeguarding children's rights and well-being. We are proud to be supporting this initiative aimed at equipping ministries' focal persons and media fellows with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively advocate for gender equality and child rights. By participating in this training, you play a crucial role in raising awareness about these critical issues, promoting advocacy, and fostering inclusivity within your spheres of influence A closer Look at UNICEF Pakistan Work Continue…

9. 9 Thank You !