Child Protection Component
Timeline:
- Jan 2025 – Sept 2027
Beneficiaries:
- Refugee Children
Location:
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – KPK
Overview
The Multiyear Child Protection Strategy seeks to strengthen a comprehensive, inclusive, and child-centered protection system for refugee and at-risk children. Grounded in community engagement, integrated service delivery, and capacity building of duty bearers, the strategy aims to create a safe and supportive environment where children are protected from violence, exploitation, and abuse and are empowered to thrive.
This strategy contributes to the broader impact of enabling women, children, and vulnerable groups to actively participate in society, remain safe from harm and harmful practices, and access quality public services. Its core outcome is to ensure that children—including refugees and other at-risk groups, can access responsive, high-quality child protection services that prevent and address violence, abuse, and exploitation.
Key Interventions and Activities:
Child Friendly Spaces (CFS)
1) Identification and Enrollment in 10 Static CFSs: Refugee children are enrolled in static Child Friendly Spaces to ensure a protective environment safe from protection risks and to support re-enrollment in formal education systems following dropouts.
2) Mobile CFS in Refugee-Concentrated Areas in KP: Conducting mobile activities to provide protection services in areas lacking static facilities, ensuring access to recreational, psychosocial, and educational support.
2. Parental Engagement and Capacity Building
1) Parenting Programme: Delivery of structured sessions for parents and caregivers focusing on psychological first aid and positive parenting techniques to strengthen familial protective factors focusing on child protection.
3. Community-Based Protection Mechanisms
1) Awareness Sessions via UNHCR Documentaries: Community-wide awareness sessions on child protection risks, response mechanisms, and reporting pathways, aiming to build an informed and responsive community. The sessions also cover topics contributing to broader child protection outcomes (e.g., early marriage, child labor, trafficking).
2) Child Protection Committees: Regular meetings with key community actors (parents, teachers, religious leaders) to share protection concepts and gather updates on child protection concerns at the local level.
3) Child Clubs: Continued engagement with child-led clubs to promote peer awareness, protection education, and reporting channels in case of protection risks and issues in their specific community.
4. Case Identification and Referral: Ongoing identification of vulnerable children and referral to appropriate service providers, ensuring timely and holistic response.
5. Capacity Strengthening of Child Protection Systems
1) Government Staff Training: Strengthen institutional response by training government officials, including District Administrators, Refugee Village Administrators, Social Animators, and staff from Child Protection Units and Social Welfare Departments, on child protection and children’s rights.
2) UNHCR and Partner Staff Training: Enhance service delivery through capacity building of UNHCR personnel and implementing partners in child protection protocols and child-friendly procedures.
