Children with Disabilities

1. Children with Disabilities UNICEF’s Approach and Country-level Programming

2. UNICEF Commitment • Guided by CRC: Principle of non-discrimination • Mission statement: “…special protection for the most disadvantaged children – victims of war, disasters, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation and those with disabilities.” • Medium Term Strategic Plan 2006-2009: Ending discrimination and promoting the full development of children with disabilities

3. UNICEF Actions Around Disability Issues Include: Preventing disability Improving inclusion (inclusive education; de-institutionalization) Ensuring equal access to social services Protecting children with disabilities from violence, abuse and exploitation Promoting an environment of acceptance, understanding and non-discrimination

4. Priorities in UNICEF Child Protection Programming: Fostering de-institutionalization and strengthening community-based services Empowering children with disabilities and their families Reducing discrimination and stigma Promoting inclusive policies, budgets, and social services Promoting inclusion of disability in sector strategy development & national development plans

5. How We Work: Creating a Protective Environment Attitudes, customs, and behaviour within families and communities Capacity: teachers, health workers, social workers, lawyers Open discussion of child protection issues in families and communities Children’s life skills knowledge and participation The Right of All Children to a Protective Environment Monitoring and Reporting child protection abuses Government Commitment to promoting change Legislation and enforcement including protective laws and recourse Services for recovery and reintegration following child protection abuses

6. Current Programming: 2 Examples from West Africa and CEE-CIS UNICEF-Mauritania Development of a national action plan for children with disabilities with relevant ministries and DPOs Awareness-raising campaign on inclusion of children with disabilities through local media (radio, newspaper) Revitalization of community-based rehabilitation programmes (through training of local leaders, social workers, DPOs, medical personnel) Government commitment to promoting change Attitudes, customs, and behaviours within families and communities Services for recovery and reintegration Capacity: teachers, health workers, social workers, lawyers

7. Current Programming: 2 Examples from West Africa and CEE-CIS UNICEF-Macedonia Government commitment to promoting change Advocacy for policy and legislative reform toward de-institutionalization Training of professionals from the social services and education sector, as well as of foster families Technical and financial support for the establishment of day care centers for children with disabilities Legislation and enforcement Capacity: teachers, health workers, social workers, lawyers Children’s life skills knowledge and participation

8. Child Protection Section at New York HQ: 2006-2007 Priorities Technical guidance note on inclusion of children with disabilities: Finalization and roll-out to country offices Improved data collection on children with disabilities for evidence-based advocacy Gather and disseminate lessons learned and best practices with respect to programming for inclusion of children with disabilities

9. Support to the Implementation of the Disability Convention What UNICEF could do: • In accordance with its mandate provide technical assistance to support governments to fulfill their obligations under the convention • Encourage the participation of civil society organizations, such as disability youth groups, in monitoring the implementation of the Convention; build capacity where needed • Use monitoring (and reporting) process to contribute to building momentum and visibility around inclusion of children with disabilities