Rethinking Child Protection in Emergencies

Abstract

The humanitarian system is struggling to adapt to changes in the global political environment, trends in armed conflict and displacement, and advances in science and technology. In recent years, the international community has undertaken a number of efforts to overcome these challenges, such as the Agenda for Humanity, a plan that outlines the changes needed to alleviate suffering, reduce risk, and lessen vulnerability on a global scale. This article reviews recent evidence from a range of disciplines to inform these efforts, especially as they relate to the protection of children. Early childhood and adolescence constitute two critical periods of child development that lay the foundations for future health and wellbeing. Exposure to adversity in crisis contexts can compromise this development, with potentially lifelong consequences. Evidence suggests that relationships with caregivers and peers play a central role in mediating childhood experiences of adversity. Unfortunately, interventions for children affected by crises are usually too fragmented to maximize the protective effects of healthy relationships. This article stresses the importance of developing multisectoral and relational interventions capable of promoting healthy development across the life course. Given the central role of caregivers, the household is an especially powerful level of intervention for combining approaches from different sectors. More concerted efforts are needed to develop household interventions that combine traditional sectoral approaches with innovative, cross-cutting measures, such as cash transfers and parental support. Household interventions should also be an integral part of broader community and society level actions, which together form more comprehensive systems of care.

Ecologies of care: mental health and psychosocial support for war-affected youth in the U.S.

“…Meanwhile, school liaisons and coordinators worked outside the classroom to bolster parental strengths and further connect them to the school’s support systems. A growing body of evidence supports such integrative, holistic MHPSS approaches that address negative exposures and reinforce strengths across social ecological levels [19, 52, 53]. Examining the linkages between these various actors also exposed fault lines in the two cities’ support systems, however, which may provide useful lessons to guide future interventions and research undertakings and which have significant implications for refugee resettlement policy.…”

Prioritizing the Prevention of Child-Family Separation: The Value of a Public Health Approach to Measurement and Action

“…Separation may compound other risks, primarily due to the loss of families' protective function [20,29,30]. Compared to other children, separated children face an increased likelihood of recruitment and abduction into armed forces and groups [15,31]. They also suffer from higher levels of food insecurity and an increased risk of child labour and sexual exploitation [32,33].…”

“…The futures of children affected by humanitarian crises are also often compromised due to physical and mental health strains [3,10,[12][13][14]. Conflict and crises jeopardize the healthy development and well-being of children [15]. Evidence from the health and nutrition sectors has linked childhood deprivation and traumatic experiences to developmental challenges as well as higher morbidity and mortality [16,17].…”