UN Guidelines for the alternative care of children

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UN Guidelines for the alternative care of
children
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Background

• 2004 Consultancy to UNICEF and ISS (Process of
  development of standards for the protection of
  children without parental care).
• 2005 Committee on the Rights of the Child-
  General Day of Discussion 16 September 2005
  Children without parental care.
• 2006 General Consultancy to States in
  Brasilia.
• 2007/08 Consultancies in Cairo, New York,
  Geneva.
• 2009 Adoption by the Human Rights Council
• 2009 Adoption by the UN General Assembly

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Objectives and principles of the Guidelines

• Articles 20 and 21 of the Convention (CRC)
• Two main aspects
• Ensure that children are not unnecessarily
  institutionalised.
• Ensure that, in case of alternative care, the
  care is provided in an appropiate way and takes
  into account the best interest of the child.

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Objectives and principles of the Guidelines

• Orientation for policies and practice on
• Prevention of the separation (e.g. assistance to
  families)
• Separation of the child from his/her family as a
  measure of last resort and for the shortest
  possible duration.
• Alternative care as necessary and appropiate
• Priority to family- based alternative care and
  respect for the childs individual needs.
• Maintain the child as close as possible to
  his/her family
• Prohibit the separation of siblings.

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Objectives and principles of the Guidelines

• Orientation for policies and practice on
• Selection, training, monitoring and support for
  whose who take care of children.
• Childs Legal representation.
• Mechanisms to protect children from violence,
  exploitation and abuse (Mechanisms of compaints,
  etc.)