UNICEF has been working in Azerbaijan since 1993. Our current activities in child protection aim to build a protective environment for all children–no exceptions. A protective environment includes all the necessary supportive elements within the family environment, community and society in which the child lives, or specific elements of the governance system that guide basic social services and the conduct of professionals in contact with children. Preventing and protecting children from abuse, exploitation and neglect is a global priority for UNICEF. Our actions are guided by the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
In Azerbaijan, our current priorities are to:
- advocate for legislative reform and continue to support alternatives to institutionalized childcare; (We are particularly concerned about children without parental care, children whose development is undermined by family breakdown, children with disabilities, abused and neglected children, children on the street, victims of exploitation and children in institutions.)
- boost the capacities of staff working in health, social welfare and educational institutions, particularly in the area of psychosocial rehabilitation;
- provide policy options to promote the reintegration of children into families and society, with a special focus on the training of teachers and social workers dealing with disabled children, especially those who have communication difficulties;
- support the development of national databases on child rights and promote the use of child rights data for policy development and monitoring;
- raise public awareness on the situation of institutionalized children through mass media.
Contributions to child care system reform
UNICEF is strongly supporting the implementation of the national programme on de-institutionalization through defining priority areas for the State Programme on Child Welfare Reform and De-institutionalization which is being finalized by the interministerial task force appointed by the deputy prime minister. The action plan will be incorporated into the Ten-Year Human Development Programme due to replace the current PRSP.
Integration of Children with Disabilities: UNICEF is working with its partners to change attitudes towards children with disabilities in Azerbaijan as part of inclusive schools initiatives which are a fundamental and integral component of de-institutionalization reform. In this regard, UNICEF gives particular attention to reforming home education, reducing stigmatization of children with disabilities and revising data collection.
Contributions to juvenile justice reform
In 2005, UNICEF initiated a project targeting children in conflict with the law. The project aims to increase awareness of duty bearers and rights holders on the human rights of children in conflict with the law. The project will focus on developing, with the Government, a national programme to build the capacities of police, judges and care and security personnel; supporting a network of NGOs working in the sector; advocating for the review of existing norms regulating juvenile justice; and setting up monitoring systems for the protection of children’s rights.
Contributions to reform of the child protection system
UNICEF has carried out research on the conditions which lead children to living on the streets. At the national government level, a permanent Child Coordination Council has been created on this issue. UNICEF works with child protection authorities and NGOs to develop community-based social services for children living and working on the streets, including day-care centres and counselling, as well as treatment centres for children suffering from abuse and neglect.
Other contributions
Mine Risk Education: We are gravely concerned about the children living in areas contaminated with landmines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO). We work with national partners to include mine risk education in school curricula in front-line districts in order to reduce the number of children dying and being injured as a result of mine/UXO explosions.
