Specialisation Training Course
Child Protection Advisers
17 November 2014 - 21 November 2014
Entebbe, Uganda
Entebbe/Uganda
In 1999, the UN Security Council recognized the importance of addressing child protection issues in the peace and security agenda and called upon United Nations Peacekeeping Missions to make child protection integral to their overall strategies. Gradually, child protection concerns have been integrated in all aspects of civilian crisis management and functions that bring in child protection expertise have been introduced in most major international organizations.
The multiple track approach necessary to address the multiple distresses affecting children in armed conflicts give room for various operational activities from monitoring and reporting to delivery of essential livelihoods support to technical assistance. This course focusses on the political aspects of child protection work: mainstreaming, advocacy, mentoring and advising for the greater protection of children in war-affected societies.
Child protection advisers and experts require specific knowledge related to children’s specific protection needs as well as a comprehensive understanding of the mission as a whole and its other expert functions. They need to have a wide range of technical knowledge, including the understanding of how to advocate for enhanced child protection within the host community, how to plan and conduct trainings, and how to provide advice to the mission leadership in an efficient manner. To support the development of the child protection expert functions and to meet the training needs related to such responsibilities, the ASPR has developed together with the UN DPKO a new specialized course for civilian personnel focusing on child protection aspects in international crisis management.
Aim and objectives
The pilot Child Protection Adviser course provides specialized personnel with a responsibility to promote a child protection perspective in their organizations the opportunity to upgrade their knowledge and to strengthen their skills. The course builds on input from senior DPKO child protection advisers and current research on the topic. The main aim is to strengthen the child protection functions within international crisis management missions by providing the participants with up-to-date knowledge and practical skills deemed necessary to work effectively in child protection functions.
Target Group
Personnel working in international crisis management missions with a child protection mandate, such as DPKO child protection officers, human rights officers who act as child protection focal points, or other kinds of child protection experts. As this is a specialized course, applicants are expected to already have a thorough understanding of the child protection agenda in crisis management missions.
Implementing Partners
Lead implementing body:Austrian Study Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ASPR), Austria.
Other implementing bodies: United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).
ENTRi Certification
This course has been certified by ENTRi. For more information on the ENTRi certification process, please click here.
