The strategic focus in CEE/CIS
UNICEF Regional Office for CEE/CIS works strategically to strengthen
and contribute to reforms related to child protection in the region.
Improving the child-protection environment is also a priority for
all UNICEF country offices in the region. Many countries inherited
strong social infrastructure from the communist period, but, though
widely accessible, these systems were set-up in an uniform manner,
were not responsive to individual needs and not respectful of children`s rights.
For example, the standard concept of child protection held that it was the State’s
responsibility to take care of children facing problems—and the standard
response was institutionalization. In the transition out of communism, these
systems have deteriorated while more families with children are at the
same and even greater risk. The current challenge is to retain the accessibility
of the old systems while transforming their services and broadening the understanding
of and responses to child protection issues.
Strengthening child protection systems
Reform efforts are taking place in all CEE/CIS countries but with
different levels of commitment and success. UNICEF country offices
in the region contribute to the reform of the systems of child care,
juvenile justice and child protection. The “child protection
system” in CEE/CIS countries is often limited to an array of
out-dated structures and residential institutions. Specific mandates
for different social sectors responsible for the protection of children
and the prevention of separation from the family are often not clearly
defined.
UNICEF envisions the child
protection system as having its home in the social welfare system. However,
the education, health and justice ministries also have to fullfil their formal
obligations to protect children from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Interaction and coordination among these different jurisdictions, as well as
between national and subnational levels of governance and services, are essential
for effective child protection. Child protection systems also need to be better
rooted in child rights; existing services must be upgraded, transformed and
organized through close cooperation among different sectors. Decentralized
planning, clear definitions of accountabilities and mandates, bigger budgets
and increased professionalism, as well as greater participation by children
and their families in the system will also make important improvements.
Developing a “continuum of services” for protection
Rooted in the articles of the CRC, UNICEF advocates that reforms
in child protection be guided by best interests of the child and
child’s right to:
- non-discrimination
- physical integrity and dignity
- protection against violence,
abuse and exploitation
- grow up in a family environment
- right to liberty
To develop a child protection system based on child rights, UNICEF
sets forth a "reform framework" for developing a
continuum
of services (models
of services) to prevent, identify, report, refer, address/treat
and provide services to children and families in need or at risk. Without
such a continuum of services, the rights of the child cannot be met,
nor protected. UNICEF promotes the concept of a child protection system
as a web of services and professionals that are guided by child rights
standards and are accountable for the quality of services and behaviours
towards clients. UNICEF child protection programmes in the CEE/CIS
Region typically contribute to the development of this continuum of
services in support of social sector reforms.
