COMMUNITY CHILD PROTECTION NETWORKS

Excerpts from Going Home – Demobilising and reintegrating child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo by Beth Verhey, Save the Children, London. 2003. Pg. 19 and 20 .

Save the Children UK has developed the following definition for the networks:

“Community child protection networks (CCPNs or ‘networks’) are a forum where community members meet, discuss child protection problems and research solutions. The CCPN is an informal structure, representing all social sectors of the community, including children. The overall aim of the CCPN is to improve the physical and social security of their community members, giving particular attention to vulnerable families and children. The objectives include:

  • Preventing and protecting children from all forms of abuse
  • Promoting advocacy for the protection and development of children
  • Disseminating and promoting the rights of children and legal protection instruments.”
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Role of Save the Children in initiating the networks

In summary, Save the Children undertakes the following steps in initiating, facilitating and supporting the networks:

  • After identifying the community or general area, Save the Children approaches the local authorities to present its intentions, child protection approach and to ask them to facilitate subsequent meeting with local leaders and representatives of various community structures.
  • Numerous meetings take place to present Save the Children’s approach and discuss child protection concerns with the various community structures. The idea of the network is discussed as well as introducing the idea of criteria for representation on the network.
  • An open community meeting is arranged where the role and criteria for the network are established and elections convened to determine the representatives to the network.
  • Training and information sessions are provided to the members of the network to further discuss their role, mission, approach and to identify specific themes for training sessions. Save the Children uses this opportunity as a mini-evaluation of the level of understanding on child protection issues and capacities of the community and network.

 

Who comprises the networks?

While each network is unique, membership levels range from 25 and 40 members commonly represent:

  • Local authorities (both civil authorities and traditional chiefs)
  • Religious leaders
  • Children
  • Representatives of service sectors, such as health, education, sports and culture
  • Representatives of key economic activities or associations
  • Representatives of local NGOs and initiatives, including women’s associations.

Each sector of the community elects its own representatives. … Representatives are often more educated members,…, but the process ensures representation of all sectors, including children, women and older persons….One lesson learned from discussions with children is that they prefer to have their own forums and that those forums have established linkages with adults.

While an open process to define criteria for membership is undertaken with each community, the criteria are commonly characteristics such as: Honesty, to be non-conflictual, to demonstrate a sense of collaboration, to be legitimate in the eyes of the community, discretion, rapport with children, a voluntary spirit and a capacity for analysis.

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Roles and activities of networks

As a forum for promoting and improving child protection, CCPNs undertake a variety of roles in the areas of prevention, awareness raising, advocacy and responsive action:

  • The networks prevent abuses and violations through advocacy and awareness raising. They analyse and disseminate child protection information in their communities and identify risks. For example, they raise awareness regarding separated children and the rights of children not to be recruited and they promote access to education.
  • The networks respond to child protection cases, they denounce abuses against children and defend and promote children’s rights. They seek to mobilize the community and any members responsible for violations.
  • Further, the networks identify the needs and interests of the community to improve the wellbeing of their children. Save the Children works with networks to undertake participatory research on issues such as access to health, education and nutrition services. The results of such research facilitate the identification of priority needs, and micro-projects may be developed with the community as a result.

 

Strengths and weaknesses of working with community networks

The networks have proven to be a key factor in ensuring an effective community approach to child protection. Some strengths and weaknesses to highlight include:

Strengths:

  • The networks efficiently and effectively raise awareness on child protection issues.
  • Members of the network can immediately identify and respond to abuses against children and advocate on their behalf with local authorities. The networks, even more than a local NGO, ensure consistent monitoring and follow-up as they are an integral part of the community.
  • The networks have improved the collaboration between local authorities and associations.

Weaknesses:

  • Some networks remain too dependent on Save the Children. The analysis of the Save the Children team is that conflict and poverty have worn down traditional community solidarity such that communities feel hopeless regarding their own capacity to redress child protection problems.
  • Networks often have exaggerated expectations of Save the Children in terms of the organisation’s resources. These are addressed through participatory research to identify priorities and feasible activities, but this process is relatively time-consuming.
  • While all networks have child representatives, genuine participation of children is weak. Child participation should be better addressed in future programs.