Building National Child Rights and Protection Capacity

The project seeks to strengthen the rights protection and well-being of poor and marginalized children and youth particularly those affected by armed conflict in several departments of Colombia including its District of Bogotá. This is being achieved by improving the practices of government agencies human rights institutions (HRIs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that support child rights. As a result of this project 40 staff of local partners (50% females) and 2 100 representatives (50% females) from central and local governments human rights institutions professional and voluntary associations and local NGOs are expected to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to take child rights into account in developing and monitoring national district and local policies programs and services. Also within the life of this project approximately 30 000 girls and boys from 5 to 7 communities mainly affected by armed conflict benefit from improved protection and increased quality of services as a result of action plans implemented by NGOs government agencies HRIs and members of their communities. This is one of two components of a project valued at $500 000. The first component has been completed.