How do we improve the care and protection of children in emergencies and post emergency contexts? How do we challenge ourselves to improve children’s right to protection in emergencies?

Gunilla Carlsson, Swedish Minister for International Development and Cooperation

Anders Nordström, Director General, Sida

There is a need to build Child Protection Systems in both crisis-affected countries and developing countries; as well as the need to address harmful social norms, strengthen knowledge and build partnerships to protect children from violence, abuse and exploitation.

Hilde Johnson, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF

Elisabeth Dahlin, Secretary-General, Save the Children Sweden

The Situation for Children in Iraq

Reports from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in Iraq this year show that there are 4.5 millions orphans in Iraq, 500 000 among them living in the streets, due to the ongoing violence, poverty, displacement and family fragmentation. Years of sanctions and conflict have deprived children in Iraq their human rights and a childhood free from violence.

Wijdan Mikheil, Minister for Human Rights in Iraq, on the challenges to fulfill the rights of children, and how the international community can assist the children in Iraq.

Aflodis Kagaba, Rwanda Youth Association for Human Rights Promotion and Development, on how youth worked together to rebuild trust among Hutu and Tutsis after genocide. Is it possible to live side by side after such a horrifying experience? What are the long-lasting effects of genocide on the next generation?

Presentation Slides: day1_aflodis_kagaba1

The Convention of the Rights of the Child in Crises and Post-Crises

In times of war and natural disasters all human rights, including children’s rights, are disregarded. But all states have an obligation to protect children within their judicial territory. The Convention of the Rights of the Child from 1989 stresses Governments obligation to protect children in peacetime as well as in times of crises and post-crises, and also according to their obligations due to International Humanitarian Law. How is it possible to maintain children’s right in situations of war or natural disaster? How can we hold states accountable when children’s right are being violated?

Jaap E. Doek, Emeritus Professor of Law at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam and former chair of the CRC-Committee

Children’s Rights in Liberia After the Civil War

During 14 years (1989-2003) Liberia was caught in a cruel civil war. Children and women were the most affected, as often is the case in wars. Even as the war is over, the violence against children and women continues. A new Action Plan against this violence is now in place. How will it be a forceful tool to protect children and women from violence, and how are remaining challenges in child protection to be addressed?

Anette Musu Kiawu, Vice Minister, Ministry of Gender and Development in Liberia, about the work in her country to give better protection to women and children.

Monitoring, Reporting and Data on Grace Child Rights Violations for Political and Programme Level Action

Collection of data which accurately reflects the scale of problems affecting children remains a challenge. The sensitive and private nature of the abuses raises political, cultural and security challenges and concerns which hamper our knowledge and ability to build evidence. There are debates about what kinds of information is needed to support the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) emerging from Security Resolution 1612 in 2005, and how best to go about obtaining this information. This session will provide an overview of recent efforts underway to address these challenges.

Tonderai Chikuhwa, Office of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict

Rebecca Symington, Senior Advisor, Child protection in Emergencies, UNICEF

Presentation Slides: day1_rebecca-symington

Les Roberts, Program on Forced Migration and Health at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health

Improving Coordination and Funding Mechanisms to Respond to the Rights of Children in Emergencies

The Accra Agenda for Action, a follow-up to the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness (2005), was adopted in September this year by more than 100 ministers from all over the world. The Agenda contains commitments to a more efficient and better coordinated international aid. What are the challenges with the Accra Agenda, and what is the role of Donors, the UN, NGOs and Governments? Can we agree on the importance of a cluster-led coordination in humanitarian response?

Ruven Manikdiwela, Deputy Director of the Division of International Protection Services, UNHCR

Brigette De Lay, Project officer Child Protection, UNICEF

Presentation Slides: day1_brigette-de-lay

Isabelle Combes, Head of Sector Strategy, policies and capacity building, European Commission DG ECHO

Moving Forward Together

What is the CPC Learning Network, and how it will contribute to better practice and policy for children in emergencies?

Neil Boothby, Professor and Director, Program on Forced Migration & Health, Columbia University

Welcome Reception

Andres Pedersen, Director, Department for Empowerment, Democracy, Human Rights and Gender Equality, Sida, invites all participants at the CPC Summit for a drink, including a short train ride through the amusement park, at Restaurant Junibacken, Villa Villekulla.