Programme
Social work
Responding to children who are at risk of or have been subject to all forms of child abuse and violence
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Challenges
UNICEF supports the development of a national child protection system, requiring the improvement of legislation and front-line services. The aim of this work is to respond to children who are at risk of or have been subject to all forms of child abuse and violence, and to prevent such situations from occurring. These objectives have been achieved by enhancing the professionalism of social work and other services that respond to and care for children on an individual basis within a family environment, in addition to the prevention of the institutionalization of children.
Solution
- The adoption of a comprehensive strategy and action plan to reduce and prevent the abuse of children, to improve their access to protection services, and to further develop social work systems;
- The increased professionalism of those responsible for protecting children, including social workers, teachers and health staff;
- The development of policies and procedures that safeguard the rights of children to be brought up in a safe and caring family environment;
- The increase of information available regarding children protection issues, in order to improve evidence-based planning;
- The improvement of multi-sectorial coordination, in order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the child protection sector.
Resources
- UNICEF has assisted the Republican Centre for the Social Adaptation of Children in developing Family and Children’s Support Services, a new model for the provision of child protection services, in five pilot districts of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Andijan and Gulistan. In each location a team of five professional staff have been trained in social work methodologies, in order to work closely with children who are most at risk of abuse and neglect;
- Three universities have introduced graduate and post-graduate courses on social work. A ten-week in-service diploma programme has also been initiated, upgrading the skills and knowledge of child protection practitioners from pilot districts.