NGENDE Nathalia Dibando Representative of Plan West African Regional Office.

1. Using the Keeping Children Safe child participation tool to support children’s action on child protection NGENDE Nathalia Dibando Representative of Plan West African Regional Office.

2. BACKDROP Plan recognises that children’s participation in their own protection is one of the key effective strategies to safeguard children from child abuse.

3. To ensure the safeguard of children who come in contact with Plan and her associates , Plan has a Child protection policy

4. What was done ? Based on Plan‘s 8th CPP standard on ‘ SAFE CHILD PARTICIPATION’ Given that a key principle in promoting children’s participation is ‘ adult guidance’, the capacity of relevant staff was enhanced in the process of involving children in their own protection . The Keeping children Safe tools were used to achieve this.

5. Remembering that…… Plan as part of the Keeping Children safe( KCS) coalition, includes the use of these tools in its work. The Plan Global safeguarding lead supported the 12 Plan West African regional programme countries to build the capacity of 32 staff who have contact with children during the course of their work. The KCS tools used were; Tool 3 - Training for Child Protection Tool 4 - Children’s Participation in Child Protection Tool 5 DVD – To support training and implementation

6. The training focused on children’s participation in their own protection as covered in The training covered the KCS tool 3,4 and 5 mentioned above.

7. Rationale for training The main aim of this training was to ensure that members of staff are empowered on how to communicate, and work in participatory ways, with children It was also aimed at enabling children to represent their concerns on harmful practices in a consultation process with Marta Santos Pais; the UN Special representative of the Secretary general on VAC and other heads of treaty bodies and policy/decision- making organizations. The targeted Children were members of country-based national children and youth advisory boards, to facilitate their consultation and advocacy actions to end of violence against children , with focus on ‘ eliminating harmful practices affecting children and youth within the sub-region’.

8. Key learning from adult training were; To understand child participation means understanding how to use the 03 models of participation To assess children’s participation one needs to put them against; Understanding child participation means being ready to include children in decision making To be prepared to work with children the adult must apply the child protection rules. To work with children, you must understand what child participation is. Working with children entails giving children the opportunity to be involved in aspects concerning them. • The six steps approach • Five phases of design for change process and • The four wheels of the bus • Hart’s ladder and • The three levels of participation: working with/ working together / working for children)

9. SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN/YOUTH TO CONTRIBUTE TO ENDING HARMFUL PRACTICES AGAINST CHILDREN IN THE WEST/ CENTRAL AFRICAN REGION. In West and Central Africa, traditional African practices, beliefs and customs are still deeply-seated, and play a preponderant role in shaping today’s society. Identifying and understanding the impact of practices and beliefs that are harmful to children is primordial as far as ensuring safeguards for children is concerned. The West and central African child develops in a society that is riddled with practices and beliefs based on culture, tradition, superstition and religious beliefs that are accepted as normal and even considered as beneficial.

10. Are these practices really beneficial to us? What comes to the minds of children and youth ? Do adults believe they fully understand how we feel about these practices ? Will our views and opinions change how adults think, decide and behave? We do know talking about such sensitive topics can expose us to risks!

11. STEPS TO INVOLVE CHILDREN IN THEIR OWN PROTECTION AS THEY PREPARED TO CONSULT WITH TOP DECISION- MAKERS ON HARMFUL PRACTICES. The six steps approach to child to child from the KCS tool 3 will be used to detail out the steps employed. This approach was such that we worked with the children and youth where they live and where they learn. Start

12. STEP 1 Identifying a topic/subject: Across the 12 Countries, children and youth supported by Plan staff and civil society identified ‘harmful practices’ as key issue in line with the 2013 Day of the African. Safeguarding parameters: From the KCS tool kit and other related tools used were; Working with groups of children Active listening Asking open questions.

13. STEP 2 Finding out more: The children and youth found out more about harmful practices by gathering information( from home( parents, siblings), in schools ( teachers), in the community (leaders, animators…); Safeguarding parameters: the key tools used included ; A risk assessment / action plan to mitigate the risks Action –oriented child protection policy Consent forms from parents, children/youth. Qualified chaperons for children less than 18 years old

14. STEP 3 Discussing what we are finding out and planning the action: The Children /youth board members discussed further on harmful practices and especially on how it affects them and their peers, families and countries; Safeguarding parameters; - Working together children/youth - Working with children/youth - Working for children/youth

15. STEP 4  Taking action ‘I’ and ‘WE’ : By this the children/youth planned actions as individuals and in groups and commenced activities at family, school and community level to address harmful practices. Safeguarding parameters: This step knew a combination of the KCS tools of Step 2 and 3. +

16. THE ACTION Approximately 100 children and youth from 13 West/ Central African countries met to consult with the UNSRSG on VAC(Marta Santos) and heads/reps of treaty bodies to end harmful practices affecting children in the sub-region KCS tools used before forum KCS tools used during forum • Forum child protection risk assessment • Consent forms from parents participants and chaperons • Child protection information guide to hotel staff • A child protection word to child/youth delegate • Travel and registration form for children and accompanying adults. • Creation of child protection committee • TOR for Child protection focal person. • Child protection and code of behaviour guidelines • - Child protecting reporting procedures • Accompanying adults/chaperon guidelines • Guidelines for Journalists and Media Professionals

17. STEP 5 and 6 Discussing the results of the action/Doing it better and sustaining the action. Some results; On Harmful practices( HP) A resolution and declaration document with proposed actions to end HP addressed to peers, parents, teachers, governments, CSO, FBOs and the united nations.

18. Zero child protection incident recorded Increased knowledge of staff and children on applying safeguarding techniques in workshop. ‘A solution for US, without US, is against US’ Increased skills of children and youth on keeping themselves and others safe while conducting advocacy on sensitive child protection issues.

19. Thanks Gracias Merci