Child Protection
We work to strengthen national protection systems, improve access to justice, and to ensure children are safe from violence and exploitation.
Challenges
The alarming rate of violence, abuse and neglect against children is not sufficiently addressed in either country; there is a great need in both countries for technical assistance to strengthen capacities and promote cross-sectoral collaboration to prevent and address violence, neglect and abuse, and family separation. Attention must also be given to strengthening local child protection systems inclusive of those systems that address children and adolescents in contact with the law with a key focus on indigenous populations.
Solutions
The long-term vision of change is that children and adolescents, particularly the most vulnerable, are protected from violence, harmful practices, exploitation and abuse through strengthened child protection systems.
UNICEF will promote legislative and policy reform around issues of domestic violence, sexual offences, juvenile justice, children without parental care and strengthening the child protection and social workforce for improved service delivery.
UNICEF and partners will develop and implement social and behaviour change communication interventions to raise awareness about different forms of violence and harmful practices; and provide technical support for the development of case management and referral systems and positive parenting programmes.
The programme will support the development of child protection management information systems.
Given the ongoing situation of migrant children in Guyana, the programme will support relevant government ministries to improve strategic and sector planning for services for separated, minor and unaccompanied children and host communities.