Child Protection
Every child, including adolescents, is protected from violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect and harmful practices
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Progress and Challenges
Since independence, Algeria has made significant progress in legislative, administrative, social, and educational measures to protect the rights of the child. One of the main achievements has been the adoption of the 2015 Child Act which fulfilled the recommendations made by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) committee review in 2012.
As stipulated by the Constitution, the protection of children is ensured by the family and the State, considering the best interests of the child and punishes all forms of violence against children, their exploitation and abandonment. In addition, the penal code has been revised to address violence against women.
The National Body for the Protection and Promotion of Children (ONPPE) was established along with a toll-free child helpline for reporting violations of children’s rights. Also, to provide cross-sectoral coordination on child protection, a committee has been set up comprising 16 ministerial sectors and the Directorate-General for National Security, the National Gendarmerie Command and civil society representatives.
The strengthening of child protection systems and services and the child protection information system are priorities particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic has made children more vulnerable than ever to violence and exploitation, including online exploitation.
The Child Protection Act provides a framework to improve access to justice for children in line with international standards. Efforts are being stepped up to develop a justice system that promotes child-friendly services and procedures, in accordance with the principle of the best interests of the child.
Despite measures against violence, the family environment is still characterized by a certain acceptance of violence as a form of discipline.[1] To this end, parenting skills need to be strengthened through family support and parental guidance programmes that include skills to promote positive disciplinary practices.
To leave no child behind, the inclusion of children with disabilities is a cross-cutting priority that must be accelerated so that they have access to their full rights.
Other groups that tend to be more vulnerable and require specific support are children in institutions, children separated from their families, children on the move and refugees.
[1] All data in this paragraph is taken from MICS 2019 unless otherwise stated.
Thanks to the adoption of the Child Protection Act in 2015, we now have a specific legal framework for child protection that has allowed us to make significant progress for children," explains Nora Myriam Ouiddir, who has been working in Algeria for eight years and is currently Head of Child Protection for UNICEF Algeria. “I use my multidisciplinary experience as a child and youth educator and manager to coordinate sustainable programmes with our government and civil society partners in the areas of child rights, child justice, psychosocial support, child participation and inclusion of children with disabilities. The strength of the partnership I have built with different actors in the protection field is driven by a common desire to advance the child rights agenda and a protective environment for children
UNICEF support
The Child Protection programme is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; SDG 8 which promotes inclusive and sustainable growth; and SDG 16 which provides for just, peaceful, and inclusive societies, and the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child following the 2012 Algeria periodic reports, and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of 2022.
The child protection system is strengthened to promote prevention, referral, and early intervention.
National capacities will be improved in (a) coordinating the various actors, particularly through support to the intersectoral committee of ONPPE; (b) collecting and analysing administrative data to establish an information system on the situation of children; (c) training of those responsible for child protection, particularly in relation to social services, the judicial system and civil society organizations; and (d) promoting positive social norms consistent with the national context that foster the protection and participation of children and adolescents.
What we do to achieve better health and nutrition outcomes for children:
1. The national integrated child protection information system is available and operational to strengthen decision-making and develop evidence-based policies and programmes. UNICEF supports national efforts in coordination of various institutional actors through support for intersectoral committees and civil society organizations. In addition, special support will be devoted to supporting the collection and analysis of key administrative data for the establishment of a reporting information system on the situation of children. The programme will provide support to national efforts to implement a new National Plan of Action for Children 2024-2030 based on the programme budget for children initiated as part of the project to modernize budgetary procedures. The technical capacities of key actors (from the social affairs sector, justice and civil society) on child protection issues will be strengthened, to increase the culture of reporting, improve the quality of services and increase the participation of children, youth and families.
2. Social and justice workers at the central and local level have the capacity, tools and procedures to effectively manage the prevention, referral and coordinated care of children and adolescents at risk. UNICEF contributes to strengthening the child helpline and enhances social and legal services in areas to be identified by the Government. To improve the delivery of child protection services, UNICEF supports training for child protection actors which includes UNICEF providing technical assistance for the development of action plans and strategies for child protection services, such as alternative care, local case management and care for children with disabilities. Technical support is provided to social assistance personnel, strengthening their capacity, and developing appropriate socio-educational tools and techniques to monitor children and young people for better social and professional integration.
3. Children and adolescents, families and civil society have strengthened capacities to act as development actors and to promote citizenship and positive educational practices. UNICEF adopts a life cycle approach and brings together the contributions of different sectors that relate to the health, development, protection and participation of adolescent girls and boys with cross-cutting programmes of communication, advocacy and communication for social behavior change. UNICEF promotes community engagement and the creating of spaces for adolescents and children to participate and promote change in areas that concern them; and recognizes them as agents of change. A communication for development strategy identifies the drivers of violent practices and addresses the general acceptance and normalization by parents, children, and society of violent discipline. Interventions around child rearing, gender roles and acceptability of violence will promote positive norms and values and reduce the impact of harmful practices on children. The programme generates quality evidence on child abuse to develop evidence-based tools and strategies.
Principaux partenaires
Government partners :
- The Ministry of National Solidarity, the Family and the Women's Affairs (MSNFCF).
- The National Body for the Protection and Promotion of Children.
- The Directorate General of National Security (DGSN).
- The Ministry of Justice (MJ).
- The Ministry of Vocational Education and Training (MEFP).
- The National Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CNESE).
United Nations partners:
- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Civil society partners:
- The Algerian Federation of Disabled Persons (FAPH).
- National Foundation for Health Promotion and Research Development (FOREM).