This paper seeks to review the national disaster plans of Jamaica from the perspective of child protection and wellbeing in emergencies. The focus of the review is on needs associated with education, psychosocial support and family reunification (including care of unaccompanied and separated children) as these needs are often given less priority in an emergency. These are referred to collectively as the non-material needs of children in emergencies. Providing for the non-material needs of children in emergencies is an important part of preventing children from experiencing physical or sexual abuse, psychological distress, neglect and harm and it is therefore vital that these are not an afterthought but an integral part of planning for an emergency. In order to review these plans a tool in the form of a checklist of measures of international standards was compiled and applied to the plans. This paper finds that the national disaster plans of Jamaica fail to meet every measure on the compiled checklist. Children are not even mentioned as a vulnerable group in need of special attention nor are measures defined to prevent them from long-term or short term harm. The limited or non-existent extent to which children are considered is furthermore found to be an issue in national disaster planning of other states. This paper therefore recommends that the national disaster plans of Jamaica, as well as other states, be revised in partnership with local stakeholders (including children, the ultimate stakeholders) taking into consideration the findings presented.

Neformaliojo švietimo organizavimas turi didelę įtaką vaikų pozityviai socializacijai. Dėl to svarbu nustatyti, kaip yra organizuojamas neformalusis vaikų švietimas, ištiriant pagrindinių neformaliojo švietimo sistemos dalyvių – vaikų ir pedagogų – požiūrį į tiriamą reiškinį. Svarbu nustatyti, ar/kaip yra įgyvendinami neformaliojo švietimo principai Kelmės miesto bendrojo lavinimo mokyklose. Tyrimo objektas – neformaliojo švietimo principų įgyvendinimas Kelmės miesto bendrojo lavinimo mokyklose. Tyrimo tikslas – teoriškai pagrįsti ir empiriškai ištirti, kaip yra užtikrinamos vaiko teisės įgyvendinant neformaliojo švietimo principus Kelmės miesto bendrojo lavinimo mokyklose. / Organization of informal education has a significant impact on the positive socialization of children. So it is important to set what is organization of informal education, to research the approcah of basic participants of informal education – children and teachers. Also it is important to set, what is the implementation of informal education principles in Kelme city general education schools. The object of research – implementation of informal education principles in Kelme city general education schools. The aim of research – to theoretically base and empirically investigate what is the implementation of informal education principles in Kelme city general education schools.

Vaikai – viena labiausiai pažeidžiamų visuomenės grupių, todėl vis didesnis dėmesys skiriamas vaikų padėčiai ne tik Lietuvoje, bet ir visame pasaulyje. Nuolatiniai pokyčiai įvairiose valstybės, visuomenės ir kiekvieno jos nario gyvenimo srityse, nauji laikmečio iššūkiai, reikalauja pokyčių vaiko teisių apsaugos srityje, skatina peržiūrėti taikomus ir ieškoti naujų būdų ir priemonių gerinti ir stiprinti vaiko teisių apsaugą. Bakalauro baigiamojo darbo tikslas yra išanalizuoti vaiko teisių apsaugos politikos įgyvendinimą Plungės rajono savivaldybėje ir apibrėžti jo tobulinimo galimybes. Pirmiausia darbe, analizuojant mokslinę literatūrą ir dokumentus, atskleidžiama vaiko teisių apsaugos politikos samprata, nagrinėjamas šios politikos įgyvendinimas tarptautiniu, nacionaliniu ir vietos lygmenimis. Darbe analizuojamas Lietuvos vaiko teisių apsaugos teisinis reglamentavimas ir sukurta institucijų sistema. Atlikus dokumentų analizę, matyti, kad Lietuvoje svarbiausią vietą vaiko teisių apsaugos institucijų sistemoje užima savivaldybių vaiko teisių apsaugos skyriai. Atliekant tyrimą buvo pasirinkti du tyrimo metodai – dokumentų analizė bei interviu. Šiais metodais siekta nustatyti kokią veiklą Skyrius vykdo ir su kokiomis problemomis susiduria įgyvendindamas vaiko teisių apsaugos politiką. Apibendrinant tyrimo rezultatus, paaiškėjo, kad didžiausios vaiko teisių apsaugos skyriaus problemos, įgyvendinant vaiko teisių apsaugos politiką, yra žmogiškųjų išteklių stoka, dideli darbo krūviai... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Children are one of the most vulnerable groups of society; therefore, the increasing attention is paid to the situation of children not only in Lithuania, but also in all over the world. Permanent changes in various states, society and each of its member’s life, the challenges of the new era, require changes in the protection of child rights, promote to review applicable and new ways and means to improve and strengthen the protection of child rights. The objective of the Bachelor’s thesis is to analyse the implementation of the protection of child rights policies in Plunge District Municipality and define the opportunities for the improvement. First of all, by analysing the scientific literature and documents, the protection of child rights policy concept is disclosed, the implementation of this policy at the international, national and local levels is analysed. The thesis analyses the protection of child rights legal regulation in Lithuania and the system created by the institutions. After the analysis of documents, it appeared that in Lithuania the most important place, in the protection of child rights institutional system, takes the local child protection departments. During the study, two methods were chosen – analysis of documents and interviews. By using these methods, it is tried to identify the activities implemented by department and the problems faced in implementing the protection of child rights policies. Summary of the research results showed, that the largest... [to full text]

This thesis employs a rights-based approach to evaluate the effectiveness of European Union (EU) external action policy formation and subsequent measures to protect children in a disaster risk context, in the Asia Pacific. Advances in human rights discourse and humanitarian responsibilities have led to a review of the concept of protection, and how it is applied in humanitarian and development assistance. Indeed, a rights-based approach to donorship centres on the obligations of duty bearers to uphold the rights of those at risk when carrying out humanitarian and development assistance, while ensuring implementation practices are accountable and transparent, to maximise donorship effectiveness. The fundamental components of upholding human rights, and reducing vulnerability, are intrinsic to the model of human security. Human security therefore assists in the analysis of protectionism through the embedded methodology of lexis-praxis where humanitarian and development policy formation, or lexis, and subsequent implementation channels, or praxis, contribute towards the measurement of the effectiveness of donor partnerships to implement disaster risk reduction programming (DRR), as a foreign policy objective. The EU is an excellent case study for the analysis of cohesion in policy implementation and an evaluation of the potential need for the harmonisation of lexis in policy formation. Harmonisation of policy lexis and policy formation will lead to coherence in praxis, or the implementation measures of the EU and Member States to enact policy obligations. To explore this notion further, this research employs a rights-based approach to analyse EU and Member State policy and practice, in the goal of upholding child rights, and reducing child risks, as part of donorship responsibilities. In addition, partner roles, responsibilities, and actions in the Asia Pacific, add another layer of analysis to review DRR policy and practice both regionally and in-country.

Studiens formål: Hensikten med studien var å sammenligne hvordan barneverntjenesten i en dansk og en norsk kommune arbeider når det gjelder å ta beslutninger, hvilke stressfaktorer som forekommer og hvilke mestringsstrategier som benyttes. Metode: Det ble holdt to fokusgruppeintervjuver, et i den danske kommunen og et i den norske. Erfarne barnevernarbeidere deltok. Begge fokusgruppeintervjuvene ble transkribert og analyert ved hjelp av innholdsanalyse. Resultat: Studien viser at barneverntjenesten i den norske kommunen har mindre formalisert samarbeid med andre kommunale tjenester, oftere tar gruppebaserte beslutninger og baserer seg mer på kolleger sammenlignet med barneverntjenesten i den danske kommunen. Barneverntjenesten i den danske kommunen har strukturert og formalisert samarbeid med andre kommunale tjenester, og baserer seg mindre på internt samarbeid sammenlignet med barneverntjenesten i den norske kommunen. Stressfaktorer i begge barneverntjenester er 1) mangel på gode resultater og 2) at det er vanskelig å vurdere den foreliggende informasjon om et barn med behov for tiltak fra barnverntjenesten. Mangel på gode resultater er stressfaktor i begge land og barnevernarbeidere i begge kommuner finner barneverntjenesten det vanskelig å ta den riktige beslutningen vedr. et konkret barn. Viktige mestringsstrategier i beslutningsprosessen i begge kommuner er støtte fra kolleger og støtte fra ledelsen. Konklusjon: Den danske barneverntjenesten har formeldt samarbeid med andre kommunale tjenester. Beslutningene baserer seg på egne vurderinger og vurderinger fra andre kommunale tjenester. Barneverntjenesten i Norge baserer seg i større grad på egene vurderinger. For begge barneverntjenester er det utfordrende å ta den riktige beslutningen for et konkret barn som har behov for hjelp. Begge tjenester søker støtte hos kolleger og ledelse. / Aim: This study aimed to compare the practice of the child protection services in a Danish and a Norwegian municipality. We sought to increase understanding about (i) the decision making processes of child protection services, (ii) the stressors encountered by child protection workers, and (iii) the coping mechanisms such workers use.Methodology: Child protection workers with 10 or more years of work experience participated in two focus group discussions, one held in a Norwegian municipality with four participants and the other in a Danish municipality with three participants. Discussion transcriptions were analysed using quality content analysis.Results: The data showed that the child protection service in Norway used only limited collaboration with other municipal services. Moreover, Norwegian child protection workers were more likely to rely on their colleagues and make group decisions. In contrast, the child protection service in the Danish municipality collaborated structurally and sustainably with other municipality services. Both groups experienced stress when they (i) were unable to achieve good outcomes and (ii) could not easily assess the situation and available information for a child in need. Child protection workers in both municipalities reported difficulty in making appropriate decisions regarding children. Important coping strategies for workers during the decision-making process involved support from colleagues and management.Conclusion: The decision-making process of Danish child protection workers relies on both individual assessments and collaboration with other municipal services. Conversely, Norwegian child protection workers are more self-reliant. Both services struggle to make appropriate decisions regarding the care of children in need, and all workers seek support from colleagues and management. / <p>ISBN 978-91-86739-15-7</p>

Studien tar utgangspunkt i et metodeutviklingsprosjekt ved et barnevernkontor i Oslo, kalt ”DuKanJo” – et forsøk på å anvende eksternaliserende samtaler som en form for empowermentstrategi allerede i undersøkelsesfasen i en barnevernsak. I alt fire familier ble invitert til å delta i såkalte ettersamtaler – en form for evaluering av et empowermentprosjekt – samtaler som også utgjorde de primære forskningsdata i studien. Studien bruker en narrativ tilnærming både som forskningsmetode og som metodisk tilnærming i ettersamtalene og kan derfor betraktes som både en evaluering av en empowermentsrategi og som et forskningsprosjekt. Hensikten med studien er å belyse om hvorvidt en narrativ metodikk i undersøkelsessaker kan bidra til å flytte fokuset i barnevernssaker fra problemorientering til ressursorientering. Studien søker også å svare på om det er mulig for barnevernet - med et så klart definert kontrollmandat -, å gjøre bruk av en ressursorientert tilnærming for å fremme familienes salutogene krefter og mestringsstrategier. Studien bekrefter at en slik tilnærming er mulig, men at det fortsatt finnes faglige og etiske dilemmaer knyttet til en slik tilnærming. / The study is a result of, and an ambition of, using a narrative approach as an empowerment strategy at a child protection office in Oslo. Externalising conversations is the main method in the strategy, in order to implement this kind of narrative orientation, at an early stage in the co-operation between the family and the social workers. Four families were invited to an interview, which also was designed as an evaluation dialog of the empowerment process, which they have been attending to during the project. The data from the interviews was then examined by a narrative research method. The main purpose of the study is to confirm that a salutogenic approach is a useful orientation for social workers in their attempt to invite families into a more formal partnership at an early stage in the investigation process. The study confirms the advantages of the orientation, but also that there still is some methodological and ethical dilemmas related to this orientation. / <p>ISBN 91-7997-142-3</p>

This research aims to evaluate the role that Kenyan independent churches play in the protection of the fundamental human rights of children. It became apparent during the course of the research that Kenya's independent churches have numerous shortcomings that affect their ability to protect such rights. The Kenyan independent churches are affected by the negative effects of an African traditional worldview. Among the effects of this worldview is the tolerance of female genital mutilation, polygamy and corporal punishment, practices that contravene the United Nation's Declaration on the Rights of Children. The research further discovered that some of the Kenyan independent churches perpetuate the violation of the fundamental human rights of children with their gross misunderstanding of Scripture, especially the wisdom of Bible texts such as Proverbs 22:15. A literal application of Scripture and a tendency to lean towards casuistic ethics contribute to the misuse and misunderstanding of the Bible verses that touch on the human dignity of children. The violation of the fundamental human rights of children is rampant in Kenya. The number of independent churches involved in protecting the fundamental human rights of children is very small. The few independent churches that offer child services offer relief services rather than embracing a human rights approach to serving children. Although the independent churches make out the majority and are the fastest growing among the churches, it is notable that mission churches such as the Catholic and Anglican churches are more involved in protecting the fundamental human rights of children when compared to the independent churches in Kenya. Kenyan independent churches furthermore suffer the effects of poverty coupled with illiteracy, a factor that affects their ability to champion the fundamental human rights of children as stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children. On the positive side, some social cultural values common among the independent churches, such as African communal solidarity and the extended family system, promote the well–being of children. However, overall the Kenyan independent churches have not successfully responded to the violation of the fundamental human rights of children. This inability remains a concern worthy addressing. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Ethics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

This research aims to evaluate the role that Kenyan independent churches play in the protection of the fundamental human rights of children. It became apparent during the course of the research that Kenya's independent churches have numerous shortcomings that affect their ability to protect such rights. The Kenyan independent churches are affected by the negative effects of an African traditional worldview. Among the effects of this worldview is the tolerance of female genital mutilation, polygamy and corporal punishment, practices that contravene the United Nation's Declaration on the Rights of Children. The research further discovered that some of the Kenyan independent churches perpetuate the violation of the fundamental human rights of children with their gross misunderstanding of Scripture, especially the wisdom of Bible texts such as Proverbs 22:15. A literal application of Scripture and a tendency to lean towards casuistic ethics contribute to the misuse and misunderstanding of the Bible verses that touch on the human dignity of children. The violation of the fundamental human rights of children is rampant in Kenya. The number of independent churches involved in protecting the fundamental human rights of children is very small. The few independent churches that offer child services offer relief services rather than embracing a human rights approach to serving children. Although the independent churches make out the majority and are the fastest growing among the churches, it is notable that mission churches such as the Catholic and Anglican churches are more involved in protecting the fundamental human rights of children when compared to the independent churches in Kenya. Kenyan independent churches furthermore suffer the effects of poverty coupled with illiteracy, a factor that affects their ability to champion the fundamental human rights of children as stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children. On the positive side, some social cultural values common among the independent churches, such as African communal solidarity and the extended family system, promote the well–being of children. However, overall the Kenyan independent churches have not successfully responded to the violation of the fundamental human rights of children. This inability remains a concern worthy addressing. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Ethics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Through my research I explored the frontline worker’s perspective of anti-oppressive child welfare practice (AOP). Five frontline workers from the Children’s Aid Society of Brant, Ontario (Brant CAS) were interviewed to share how they view their practice, and the child welfare system, through an anti-oppressive lens. An Anti-oppressive theory perspective was the framework for my research, using a narrative methodology. It is through the stories of the participants that we learn there is a variance in the understanding and implementation of AOP that is affecting the practice of frontline workers, the families they work with and possibly placing children at further risk. An outcome of this research is to hopefully improve training, allowing the frontline worker to have a better understanding of the philosophy of AOP and how it applies to their practice. / Graduate

Negative perceptions of being Aboriginal persist and policies such as self-determination are generally perceived to have failed despite many texts to the contrary. This thesis examines assumptions and presuppositions within contemporary writings and practices, determining in the process, conditions seeming necessary for decolonising ways of living and research. Much closer attention is required not only to developing better understandings, but especially to articulating explanations via the reality of deep structures, their powers and causal mechanisms underpinning social life generally and in particular, the lived experience of oppressed communities. Neo-Nietzscheanism and post-structuralism tend to see reality as merely constructed. Maximising movements of solidarity with the oppressed must express the freedom of everyone in any particular place. The thesis begins by exploring the nature and significance of philosophical underlabouring (clearing the ground) for decolonisation as self-emancipation. It then engages with issues of value, truth and power by means of establishing a critical realist dialogue between two sets of writings. Key works by Australian (Japanangka West, Yolnju) Maori (Tuhiwai Smith) and American (Moonhawk Alford, Taiaiake Alfred) First Nations thinkers in modernity's colonial context are retroductively analysed in order to suggest what must be the case (in terms of being and becoming) for decolonisation to be possible. Works by philosophers currently establishing and applying Bhaskarian transcendental dialectical critical realist and/or meta-Realist principles of self-emancipation are critiqued in relation to their compatibility with decolonisation. Terms of reference within this dialogue are then supplemented from within writings by a range of others (Fanon, Said, Otto and Levinas), selected for their perceived significance in developing a dialectical praxis of personal and social transformation through spirit within the domain of strengthening community and protecting children.