championing children’s rights

RIGHTS ON – Supporting organizations’ needs for evidence-based advocacy

CHAMPIONING CHILDREN’S RIGHTSA Global Study of Independent Human Rights Institutions for ChildrenVanessa SedletzkiInternational Consultant - Human Rights, Governance, Policy

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Today’s presentation Ethos of the study

Facts from the world

Making a difference for children

Way ahead

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Ethos of the study

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One central question

In a political system made by and for adults

What makes an institution fit for children?

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Independent human rights institutions for children

Scope of the study: international standards

Institutions that are Public Independent in principle Specific focus on children’s rights

No classification of individual institutions according to network criteria

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What the book talks about… World-wide expansion

Common features: independence, CRC approaches, direct engagement with children, international engagement

Common difficulties: status of children, mandate, resources, implementation of recommendations

Different contexts

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Contents Key cross-cutting themes analysis

Practical questions

Regional overviews

Recommendations

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What it can do for you Provide evidence for advocacy Help find answers to your questions

or think through issues See how it happens elsewhere Help you explain your role Help others understand it Relevance for other child rights

issues

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Facts from the world

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Where are they? 1996

Note: This map is stylized and not to scale. It does not reflect a position by UNICEF on the legal status of any country or territory or the delimitation of any frontiers.

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Where are they? 2012

Note: This map is stylized and not to scale. It does not reflect a position by UNICEF on the legal status of any country or territory or the delimitation of any frontiers.

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Regional overviews

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Development across regions

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Snapshot by region Sub-Saharan Africa

Operating in weak governance contexts Yet making progress in several countries

Asia and the Pacific Very diverse Strong in South Asia and tackling difficult

issues Issues with independence and visibility of

CR

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Snapshot by region Europe

Compliance with international standards Innovative child participation but

accessibility issue Facing threats

Latin America and the Caribbean Strong status, linked to democratization Local presence Regional network in progress

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Snapshot by region Middle-East and North Africa

None but broader NHRIs Opportunities with transitions?

Australia, Canada, New-Zealand, USA Sub-national level Strong child protection approach

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Making a difference for children

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Core achievements Making children visible in policy making

Focus on environments

Equitable approaches

Child participation

Individual or specific situations

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Influencing factors

Effectiveness

Own driveProactiven

ess

Legal mandate

Competencies

Environment

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Way ahead

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Recommendations to independent institutions

Increase awareness among childrenNurture partnerships with wide range of actorsDisaggregate complaint dataEnsure attention to child rights within broad-

based institutionFoster coordination with other independent

institutions nationallyPromote implementation of recommendationsHave clear strategic plan and communicate on

results

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To find the policy summary…

http://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/669

English Arabe FrançaisRussian Espanol Italiano

Book coming out in the fall in English

RIGHTS ON – Supporting organizations’ needs for evidence-based advocacy

THANK YOU!

Vanessa.sedletzki@gmail.com