Action
The Communication, protection and participation programme is comprised of four projects: Child Protection; HIV/AIDS; Youth Development and Participation; and Communication for Development. The first project focuses on protecting children against violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination. Here the emphasis is on strengthening the capacities of families, communities and other duty bearers to provide protection for children. It also supports the development of policies and institutions and the provision of access to basic services and psycho-social care for marginalized and disadvantaged children. HIV/AIDS similarly focuses on ensuring a helpful environment for community-based, multi-sectoral action to prevent and control the spread of the pandemic. This project concentrates on creating youth-friendly services within a conducive policy environment. The Youth Development and Participation project works in tandem with the other projects. Members of the project team help local youth groups organize with their peers, and have set up recreational and cultural activites designed to engage Somali children and teens. The project has also established effective networking and consultative structures that have enabled youth to take key roles and responsibilities in the community as agents of change. UNICEF works closely with local authorities, communities and youth groups to see that support is given to developing holistic, gender-sensitive youth policies. The United Nations (UN) Country Team and members of the appropriate Somalia Aid Coordination Body (SACB) committees, including UN agencies, non-govermental organizations (NGOs) and donors, are also working towards these goals. The last project, Communication for Development, focuses on developing strategies for programme communication and social mobilization to support various sectors. In the coming year, the project will spearhead the development of a human rights-based approach to programme communication, with a focus on building the capacities of rights holders and empowering them as agents of change. Advocacy strategies will be developed, through alliances and partnership networks, to create opportunities that will allow children and youth to claim their participation rights.
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