External Newsletter - October 2018
DEFENCE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL (DCI) is a leading child rights-focused and membership-based grassroots movement, founded in 1979, the first International Year of the Child. We promote and protect the human rights of children at the local, national, regional and international level, and were one of the drafters of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history.

Below the number of children, professionals working with children, community leaders & child welfare stakeholders who benefited in 2017 from DCI's  activities: 
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In this Edition:
Latest News from Geneva
Committee on The Rights of the Child 
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) held its 79th session from September 17-28, and reviewed reports submitted under the Convention on the Rights of the Child of Mauritania, among others. The Defence for Children International Secretariat (DCI-IS) subsequently followed the Mauritania review. DCI-Mauritania had previously submitted a joint report covering a range of children’s rights concerns to the Committee for the pre-session. The Committee reviewed Mauritania's child rights record highlighting concerns and asking clarifications on several child rights topics. The discussion focused on birth registration, juvenile justice, early and child marriage, children with disabilities, and refugees and asylum seekers. Several of these violations of human rights of children were highlighted in DCI-Mauritania’s report.
 
  • Day of General Discussion 2018
DCI-IS actively engaged during the Day of General Discussion (DGD) of the CRC on September 28, dedicated to the topic “Protecting and Empowering Children as Human Rights Defenders."

DCI-IS alongside DCI-Netherlands and DCI-Sierra Leone in the framework of the Girls Advocacy Alliance (GAA) supported a girl human rights defender, Mellicentia Boateng, and a woman human rights defender,  Hawanatu Mansaray, from Sierra Leone to participate in the DGD. Mellicentia Boateng, a 17-year-old girl, participated as a child speaker during the DGD dialogue on the “Empowerment of girls rights defenders.” She is part of a local organization called Action for Youth and Children’s Network (AYCN) aimed at combatting gender-based violence against girls and women. Read more about the GAA engagement during the Day of General Discussion (DGD) here.

Mellicentia delivered a powerful speech about the challenges of being a child human rights defender in Sierra Leone as well as her perspective on what would enable more girls to become defenders of their rights and the rights of others. She raised several issues like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and degrading treatments at schools. She explained how she engages in her community and why it is so important for her. Sharing her experience, she reiterated that girls should have not only the same rights as boys but also the same capacities.

“Your daughter can be more. Your daughter can be more than this. You just have to give her the chance. â€ś(Mellicentia, 28.09.18 Geneva)

“For the community, girls should stay at home. What we do is going as groups to engage leaders to talk to them about girls’ rights." (Mellicentia, 28.09.18 Geneva)
Mellicentia Boateng, a 17 years old girl Human Rights Defender in Geneva, September 2018. 

During the DGD, the DCI-IS attended the Working Group on Children Human Rights Defenders (CHRDs) and Online Spaces, which focused on child-led initiatives and protection online as well as the empowering nature of digital media. We also took part in particular sessions on indigenous children human rights defenders and CHRDs with disabilities. On top of that, we participated in the group on state actors which featured discussions on CHRDs in alternative care, the role of Children’s Parliaments, and national protection measure, among others.
UN Human Rights Council Session

39th session of the Human Rights Council

The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council’s (HRC) 39th session took place from September 10-28, 2018 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. As part of Defence for Children International Secretariat's (DCI-IS) advocacy strategy and as per our thematic priorities, cross-cutting issues and National Sections, DCI-IS followed the plenary sessions and selected side events. We also engaged with government representatives, UN officials, and members of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

It was a busy session for DCI with a lot of engagement on children on the move and deprivation of liberty. DCI drafted a
statement welcoming the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) report on Youth and Human Rights – particularly with a focus on children in conflict with the law and children and young people on the move – and were also part of a joint statement on the human rights of migrants.

DCI-IS followed the sessions and events related to the cross-cutting issues of deprivation of liberty and gender. On deprivation of liberty, DCI-IS was involved in the call for the engagement of member States and observers with the
UN Global Study of Children Deprived of Liberty, by drafting a statement that was delivered by the International Catholic Child Bureau (BICE) welcoming the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's revision of deliberation No.5 on the deprivation of liberty of migrants. Moreover, DCI was engaged in the gender discussions, including during the annual discussion day on gender and the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery by delivering a joint statement highlighting that girls face heightened risk of exploitation.

Lastly, DCI-IS was involved with activities related to DCI’s National Sections, by participating in discussions and delivering statements and activities related to the concerning situation of Central African Republic (CAR); the
indigenous peoples in Brazil; the Universal Periodic Review Outcome Adoption of Colombia; the routine shooting and killing of children in Palestine and the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on the 2018 protests in the occupied Palestinian territory, as well as the conflict in Yemen, including in the discussions with the Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen.
Updates on the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty
The Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty continues in its implementation phase with desk-based research and consultations underway. DCI is playing a key role in drafting some of the desk-based research and is in four working groups. DCI-IS continues to play a major role as co-convener of the NGO Panel, coordinating NGO involvement in advocacy, research, and consultations.
 
 A thematic consultation on children deprived of their liberty in institutions was held in Pretoria (South Africa) on July 26 and 27, 2018. It was hosted by the Centre for Child Law in the Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria together with UNICEF. The consultation gathered representatives from several international non-governmental organisations, including Benoit van Keirsbilck for Defence for Children International (DCI-Belgium), in his capacity as advisory board member and member of the research group for children deprived of liberty in institutions. It featured rich discussions on key topics relevant to children deprived of their liberty in institutions, including definitional challenges, the causes and consequences of such practices, the identification of interesting practices, the need for a de-institutionalisation process, and recommendations that should be addressed to all stakeholders. 

A regional consultation was held in Montevideo, Uruguay on October 25, 2018. Further details will be announced in due course. The program of this event, in Spanish, can be found here.
Justice for Children Award Ceremony

DCI in cooperation with the OMCT were proud to organize the second edition of the Justice for Children Award ceremony followed by a discussion panel with major experts on Children's rights.

This year’s edition particularly focused on violence against girls in the justice system and took place on October 2nd 2018 at the Delegation of the European Union to the UN, Geneva. It was the occasion to celebrate Filip Waszczuk, winner of the competition and student of Anthropology and Human Rights at Sciences Po Paris, as well as to hold a high-level discussion with renowned Human Rights experts on Justice for Children.

H.E. Walter Stevens, Head of the Delegation of the EU to the UN in Geneva, opened the ceremony by reminded the audience the commitment of the EU’s role in ending all violence against children and it’s implication in various projects, resolutions and researches such as the “UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty”.
Some quotes that marked the debate:
 
Pr. Philip. JaffĂ©: â€śWe need multiple answers, not only laws.”

Ms. Meskerem Geset Techane: â€śThere is a re-victimization of girls when they go through the justice system, because they are not taken seriously.”
“There is less tolerance to girls’ deviance than to boys’ deviance.”


Ms. Renate Winter: â€śWomen and girls are not vulnerable by principle.”

Mr. Benoît Van Keirsbilk: “There is a need not only for training professionals, but for the sensitization of the society, and set in place a monitoring mechanism that is accessible, child and gender sensitive, and effective.”
After a remarkable exchange of views, experiences and questions from the audience, the moderator asked each speaker to give one concrete recommendation in moving towards ending violence against girls in the justice systems. Prof. Philip Jaffé highlighted the need to provide safe spaces for girls; Ms. Meskerem Geset Techane said that the focus should be on the National Human Rights action plans; Mr. Filip Waszczuk suggested the establishment of stronger links between the International Communities (e.g. Human Rights Defenders, Human Rights Organizations) and the alignment of the message to be a benchmark for everyone to follow. Additionally, Mr. Benoît Van Keirsbilk alleged that girls need to be empowered so that they can be a part of the solution; and lastly Ms. Renate Winter emphasised the need to promote, with all means possible, equality between women and men at all levels as a very first step to fight violence against girls.
Renate Winter stresses the relevance of talking about violence against girls in the justice system
  • To read Filip’s paper on the violence against girls in the justice system in Uganda, click here.
  • You will find the press release (also available in French & Spanish) about this event and pictures here.

Highlighting DCI's work: DCI-Spain

This month, the International Secretariat is highlighting DCI’s work in Europe by sharing with you the different projects and activities lead by DCI-Spain at the national, regional and international level. DCI-Spain was founded in 2012. The National Section focuses its activities on children in the context of migration, child participation, justice for children, and violence against children.

At the national and regional level, DCI-Spain regularly organizes round tables, information and awareness raising events to sensitize about children’s rights and currents issues faced by children.

At the international level, DCI-Spain has been involved in the  project ELFO (Empowering guardians, Legal representatives and Foster families of children deprived of parental care against violence through child rights) since 2016. The  initiative focuses on the reinforcement of parental care of the actors of civil society who undertake parental functions such as for example guardians, foster parents and legal representatives. These guardians acting independently and for the best interest of children could constitute a key element to prevent violence and abuse of children. The project’s general objective is to train guardians within an integrated child protection framework in all partner countries.

 
Main contacts at DCI-Spain
President: Ricardo Centellas Albert
Secretary: Giovana Cangahuala
  
For more information, visit DCI-Spain’s website: http://www.dni-es.org/

We would like to thank DCI-Spain for its excellent contribution for its efforts to advance children’s rights and we look forward to continuing our collaboration to strengthen our Movement.
News from DCI's Movement Around the World
DCI-Palestine has elected a new President for its Children’s Council. Discover more about the Children’s Council and meet Bara S. here.
Discover DCI-Costa Rica’s actions for the detection, protection and care of children and girls victims of trafficking here (in Spanish only).
New DCI project with Erasmus+ in Europe: DCI’s National Sections in Belgium, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, France, Netherlands, Greece, in addition to DCI’s International Secretariat and the DCI-World Service Foundation are working from October 2018 to September 2020 on a project entitled Child-Friendly Justice in Action, through Erasmus+. This project has several objectives:
  • Advocate for an adaptation of the judicial systems in line with children’s rights;
  • Strengthening capacities of professionals working with children in contact with the judicial system;
  • Make sure that the voice of children is heard in litigation;
  • Guarantee the participation of children in all proceedings involving them; 
  • Make sure that the best interest of the child is taken into consideration also when the child is not directly concerned.
DCI-Italy is active in the project ELFO, a transnational initiative, co-funded by the “Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme” of the European Union, with the main objective of enhancing the level and quality of protection of children deprived of parental care by empowering guardians, legal representatives and foster carers within an integrated child protection framework. Watch the video here to have more information about the project.
On November 26, DCI-Belgium is organizing the European Final Conference “A participatory path toward reintegration of children in conflict with the law” in the framework of the project Children’s Rights Behind Bars 2.0. Register to the conference and have a look at the program here. DCI-Belgium also delivered a press release calling the Belgian Government to release the Serbian Family, held captive in the country since august 2018.  Read it here.
On the occasion of the Day of the Girl Child, DCI-Sierra Leone published a press release on the situation of girls and young women in the country, urging the Government to take concrete actions to empower them and remove barriers they face in accessing education and work.
DCI-Ghana actively engaged for the prosecution of teachers who are found culpable of sexual harassment against their female students. Discover the article here.
DCI-Liberia reunified nine Sierra Leoneans children with their family in early october 2018. More details can be found here

Other News

Recent Releases

Report from Action on Child Early and Forced Marriage on “Millions of Child Widows Forgotten, Invisible and Vulnerable”. Read the whole report here.

Alternative Ways to Address Youth (AWAY) Project - Review of Diversion in the Juvenile Justice Systems of Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary and Romania.
Read the whole report here.

Must-read report from 2017 European Union Child Forum on children deprived of liberty and alternatives to detention: read here.  


Have a look here at the UN Day of General Discussion (DGD) blog on Children as Human Rights Defenders, event in which DCI actively engaged last September.
 
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This newsletter was translated into French and Spanish thanks to the work of our volunteer translators: Florencia Figueroa and Nina Augustin.
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