Child protection

Baghdad, 15 June 2022.- "UNICEF is shocked at the killing of a 12-year-old boy in an attack in Sinjar area in Ninewa Governorate. "UNICEF condemns all acts of violence against children and joins the family in mourning the killing of their child. Being a victim of, witnessing, or fearing violence should never be part of any child’s experience. "…

Baghdad, 12 June 2022. On this World Day Against Child Labour, with the slogan “Universal Social Protection to End Child Labour”, ILO and UNICEF are calling on stakeholders to work together to create a protective and inclusive environment for children in Iraq. Children make up the majority of 4.5 million Iraqis who are at risk of poverty due to…

Situated on the outskirts of Erbil, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Debaga Camp is home to more than 3,309 individuals and 1,396 families who were forced to flee their homes and internally displaced due to conflict. “It’s been one year. I came here with my mother and sisters. My father is imprisoned. I have 5 sisters and two little brothers and…

February has been one of the most dangerous months for children in Iraq in recent times - 6 children (all boys) have lost their lives, and 10 children (9 boys, 1 girl) have been maimed by explosive remnants of war (ERW)., ERWs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) remain one of the leading causes of killing and maiming of children in Iraq, with boys particularly affected. UNICEF is alarmed by the high number of children affected by ERW and urges all stakeholders to accelerate efforts to clear existing mines and unexploded ordnance, expand risk education, and…

Cyberbullying: What is it and how can we stop it?, What teens want to know about cyberbullying. We brought together UNICEF specialists, international cyberbullying and child protection experts, and teamed up with Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter to answer some of the most common questions about online bullying and give advice on ways to deal with it.  What is cyberbullying? Cyberbullying…, The top questions on cyberbullying, 1. Am I being bullied online? How do you tell the difference between a joke and bullying? 2. What are the effects of cyberbullying? 3. How can cyberbullying affect my mental health? 4. Who should I talk to if someone is bullying me online? Why is reporting important? 5. I’m experiencing cyberbullying, but I’m afraid to talk to my parents about it…, 1. Am I being bullied online? How do you tell the difference between a joke and bullying?, UNICEF:  All friends joke around with each other, but sometimes it’s hard to tell if someone is just having fun or trying to hurt you, especially online. Sometimes they’ll laugh it off with a “just kidding,” or “don’t take it so seriously.”  But if you feel hurt or think others are laughing at you instead of with you, then the joke has gone too…, 2. What are the effects of cyberbullying?, UNICEF: When bullying happens online it can feel as if you’re being attacked everywhere, even inside your own home. It can seem like there’s no escape. The effects can last a long time and affect a person in many ways: Mentally – feeling upset, embarrassed, stupid, even afraid or angry  Emotionally – feeling ashamed or losing interest in the…, 3. How can cyberbullying affect my mental health?, UNICEF: When you experience cyberbullying you might start to feel ashamed, nervous, anxious, and insecure about what people say or think about you. This can lead to withdrawing from friends and family, negative thoughts and self-talk, feeling guilty about things you did or did not do, or feeling that you are being judged negatively. Feeling lonely…, 4. Who should I talk to if someone is bullying me online? Why is reporting important?, UNICEF:  If you think you’re being bullied, the first step is to seek help from someone you trust such as your parents, a close family member, or another trusted adult. In your school, you can reach out to a counselor, the sports coach, or your favorite teacher – either online or in person. And if you are not comfortable talking to someone you…, 5. I’m experiencing cyberbullying, but I’m afraid to talk to my parents about it. How can I approach them?, UNICEF:  If you are experiencing cyberbullying, speaking to a trusted adult – someone you feel safe talking to – is one of the most important first steps you can take. Talking to parents isn’t easy for everyone. But there are things you can do to help the conversation. Choose a time to talk when you know you have their full attention. Explain how…, 6. How can I help my friends report a case of cyberbullying especially if they don’t want to do it?, UNICEF:  Anyone can become a victim of cyberbullying. If you see this happening to someone you know, try to offer support. It is important to listen to your friend. Why don’t they want to report being cyberbullied? How are they feeling? Let them know that they don’t have to formally report anything, but it’s crucial to talk to someone who might be…, 7. How do we stop cyberbullying without giving up access to the Internet?, UNICEF:  Being online has so many benefits. However, like many things in life, it comes with risks that you need to protect against. If you experience cyberbullying, you may want to delete certain apps or stay offline for a while to give yourself time to recover. But getting off the Internet is not a long-term solution. You did nothing wrong, so…, 8. How do I prevent my personal information from being used to manipulate or humiliate me on social media?, UNICEF:  Think twice before posting or sharing anything on digital platforms – it may be online forever and could be used to harm you later. Don’t give out personal details such as your address, telephone number, or the name of your school. Learn about the privacy settings of your favorite social media apps. Here are some actions you can take on…, 9. Is there a punishment for cyberbullying?, UNICEF:  Most schools take bullying seriously and will take action against it. If you are being cyberbullied by other students, report it to your school. People who are victims of any form of violence, including bullying and cyberbullying, have a right to justice and to have the offender held accountable. Laws against bullying, particularly…, 10. Technology companies don’t seem to care about online bullying and harassment. Are they being held responsible?, UNICEF:  Technology companies are increasingly paying attention to the issue of online bullying. Many of them are introducing ways to address it and  better protect their users  with  new tools, guidance, and ways to report  online abuse. But it is true that more is needed. Many young people experience cyberbullying every day. Some face extreme…, 11. Are there any online anti-bullying tools for children or young people?, UNICEF:  Each social platform offers different tools (see available ones below) that allow you to restrict who can comment on or view your posts or who can connect automatically as a friend, and to report cases of bullying. Many of them involve simple steps to block, mute, or report cyberbullying. We encourage you to explore them. Social media…

Girl on a mission - Asmaa’s story , Asmaa (not her real name) is a 16-year-old girl who used to live in a village in the Salah al-Din Governorate of Iraq. She left school aged nine years old when militants took over their village. Her father and family joined the armed groups and they fled when confrontations began with the Iraq government due to fear of arrest. First the family…, Zaid’s road to success  , Zaid (not his real name) is a 15-year-old boy living in one of the camps for displaced populations in Northern Iraq. Zaid and his family had to flee their village and live in Mosul during the conflict in Iraq before they finally settled in the camp.   Zaid lost his father during the conflict, with his four siblings they moved to the camp where…, When determination meets courage -Salem’s story , Salem (not his real name) is a 15-year-old boy living in one of the camps for displaced populations in Iraq. Salem was affected by the conflict in Iraq at an early age and this resulted in him leaving school and moving from his village.   Salem lost his father and two of his brothers in the conflict in Iraq and following this he moved with his…

If your family is stuck at home during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, it’s likely your children are spending a lot more time online. School, chats with friends and grandparents, even music lessons — so much has shifted online. Being connected helps children and teenagers reduce the impact of this new normal and encourages them to…, 5 ways you can help keep your children safe online, 1. Keep them safe with open communication Have an honest dialogue with your children about who they communicate with and how. Make sure they understand the value of  kind and supportive  interactions and that mean, discriminatory or inappropriate contact is never acceptable. If your children experience any of these, encourage them to tell you or a…

BAGHDAD, 2 February 2022. – “4 children have died (3 boys and 1 girl) and 2 have been maimed over the last week, as a result of incidents related to explosive ordnances in two locations in Iraq. UNICEF expresses its deep sorrow and condolences to the children’s families, friends, and communities. “Tragically, as reported in a UNICEF statement last…

Download the photo here . NEW YORK, 1 February 2022 – Catherine Russell took office today as UNICEF’s new Executive Director, becoming the fourth woman to lead the organization in its 75-year history. “It is an honor and a privilege to join UNICEF and help lead its remarkable work for children at such a crucial moment,” said Russell. “At a time…

BAGHDAD, 14 January 2022. – “A child being hurt is a child too many.  “A child and a woman were injured, and a school was damaged, in a rocket attack last night in Baghdad. “Children must be protected from attacks at all times. Schools and homes must be safe at all times. “We wish the injured child and woman a speedy recovery. Nothing justifies…

Baghdad, 28 December 2021 - UNICEF is deeply concerned by the media reports on the sexual violence suffered by a seven-year-old girl child in Baghdad, along with the kidnapping of her younger brother. UNICEF condemns all acts of violence against children and calls on all stakeholders and members of society, following Article 19 of the Convention…

Basra, 12 December 2021 - "Unfortunately, the society here is very patriarchal about violence against women, and the biggest problem is that in the case of beatings, women think that this is a man's right to exercise it over them, so women accept it and go to offload what they have been exposed to on their children,” describes with sadness Hind, a…