Responding to Grave Violations of Children’s Rights During Armed Conflict - UNICEF 2013

March 2013 - Founded in 1946 UNICEF is mandated by the UN General Assembly to protect the rights of children and women in developing countries through its development and humanitarian assistance programming. In humanitarian emergencies UNICEF's activities include the provision of: commodities to treat severe acute malnutrition; safe drinking water sanitation facilities and hygiene programming; emergency education; basic healthcare; and protection services for children and women. Canada's support to UNICEF assists its efforts to monitor report and respond to grave violations committed against children during armed conflict. Documentation of violations taking place in the most fragile of situations is an important step in crafting the appropriate humanitarian responses but also building and evidence base to hold those accountable and work to end these violations.

Expected outputs include: Preparation of information and trend analysis related to child protection concerns; development of action plans with governments and non-state actors to end and address violations against children; monitoring compliance of existing action plans; technical assistance provided to governments in order to effectively implement their commitments made in action plans; advocacy on behalf of children and their rights; and assistance and support to released child soldiers; assistance and support to survivors of violations including sexual violence. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially children.