CID’S CIVIL MILITARY FORUM 2013

1. CID’S CIVIL MILITARY FORUM 2013 Protection of Civilians – What does this mean? Kirsty Burnett,SCNZ Head of Programmes kirsty.burnett@savethechildren.org.nz

2. All children have rights, and everyone has a responsibility to make these rights a reality Our work is based on the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Our key areas of work include: • Child protection – including in emergencies • Child rights • Education • Emergencies • Health & nutrition • HIV and AIDS We work in all the countries shown in red on the map

3. Impact of armed conflict on civilians • Conflict has always affected civilian pops – but now more than ever (eg Syria 1.5m refugees – half are children). • UN Security Council notes these trends: • Attacks against/interference with health care • Use of explosive weapons (civilians 70%+) • Forced displacements of civilian en masse • Increased role of non-state armed groups • Sexual violence and psycho-social distress on the rise

4. Definition of civilian protection • ICRC – all activities aimed at ensuring full respect for the rights of the individual in accordance with the letter and spirit of the relevant bodies of law. • ODI – the provision of immediate or short-term security and safety to civilian. Military roles are one component to achieve civilian protection.

5. Definition of child protection in emergencies • SCI – the prevention of and response to abuse, neglect, exploitation of violence against children in emergencies. • Specific issues in events of armed conflict: • Address cases of violence against children • Specific provision in peacekeeping missions • Advocate to control illicit activities and comply with int. law and HR for children • Family tracing & reunification, re-intergration if assoc. with armed forces/groups

6. Syria example… Humanitarian community should: • Include CP in assessments • Provide adequate funding for CP • Use Minimum Standard for CP in Humanitarian Action (global std) • Mainstream CP in responses • Ensure CP response build on and strengthen local capacities • Include CP in post-conflict planning

7. Humanitarian civil-military coordination • In addition to during armed conflict, rise of military engagement in humanitarian action in: - “stabilisation” or peacekeeping • natural disasters (eg 2004 Tsunami) • Both can be or be perceived as being political • Save involvement in training the military (eg peacekeepers) in child rights and protection

8. Quotes… • There is nowhere for us. The soldiers go everywhere, even into our homes. (11 yr old Palestinian boy) • Another thing they do to use children to protect themselves, They know we can’t shoot our own children, so they put the children in front – so they’re a human shield – and march into our village. Its terrifying for the children. Many of them die. (15 yr old Syrian boy)

9. Discussion points • Long term impact of not protecting children’s rights as failure to do so affects progress in all sectors. • Breakdown of national and community-based child protection system make children esp vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect.