Protecting Rights through Humanitarian Action
About this Section
Growing the Sheltering Tree
Training and Toolkits
Resources

Action for the Rights of Children (ARC)

A Rights Based Training and Capacity Building Initiative

Developed by Save the Children and UNHCR

Introduction
Content
Review of 2000 and the First Half of 2001
ARC Resource Packs

Tools ARC Facilitator's Toolkit
Contents.

For more Information Email:
David Nosworthy at david@save-children-alliance.org
Ulla Blomquist at ulla.blomquist@rb.se

Introductionback

UNHCR and the Save the Children Alliance initiated ARC in 1997 as a direct response to the United Nations Study on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children (the Graça Machel Study). The Machel Study points out that UNHCR is often one of the first agencies to intervene in emergencies, where approximately 50% of refugees and other persons of concern to the Office are children, including adolescents. ARC's primary goal is to increase the capacity of UNHCR, government, and NGO field staff to protect and care for children, including adolescents, of concern, from the emergency through to the durable solutions phase.

The ARC project is managed by an inter-agency Steering Committee comprised of representatives from UNHCR, the Save the Children Alliance, UNICEF and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Through the project, a series of resource packs have been developed that focus attention on the rights and needs of children affected by armed conflict.

Participants from regional training of trainers workshops form regional resource teams who identify needs and develop action plans. Needs are addressed through follow-up activities at country and regional levels and, in turn, ARC's participatory framework is used to engage staff in identifying activities that address critical issues affecting children.

Contentback

ARC resource packs are divided into two categories: Foundations and Critical Issues. Each resource pack consists of briefing notes, participatory training materials including case studies, and training aids, that encourage field and headquarters staff to integrate their experience into regional situations. In addition, a Facilitator's Toolkit gives the potential facilitator ideas about participatory training approaches.

There are multiple and complex factors that inter-relate and affect the well-being of children, including adolescents. Alerting staff to some of these complex relationships is an important objective of the ARC project. The resource packs thus include multiple cross-references to other issues related, or of concern, to the issue under consideration (attached is a diagram illustrating how some of these issues inter-relate). ARC thus seeks to engage staff in a broader analysis, and discussion, of issues in order to serve the best interests of the child. The materials have also been constructed in such a way as to provide facilitators with a flexible resource of materials that can assist in identifying the issues to address and the techniques to be used in imparting knowledge to others. This flexible approach means that the materials are not only of relevance to formal training events and in developing broader learning opportunities, but also as a basis for workshop discussions or simply as a reference resource for field staff working on specific children's issues. Depending on the profile of the recipients as well as the political, economic, social, and cultural context of the particular region or country, learning needs can differ dramatically.

Review of 2000 and the First Half of 2001back

The main focus of ARC in 2000 and during the initial six months of 2001 remained the review and finalisation of the resource packs, as well as the strengthening of regional training and follow-up activities.

By June 2001, seven resource packs, namely Working with Children, Community Mobilisation, Child and Adolescent Development, Child Soldiers, Abuse and Exploitation, Education and Sexual and Reproductive Health, had been completed and made available via UNHCR's website. UNHCR is also in the process of producing a CD-Rom, containing all of the resource packs, which will enable wider distribution outside as well as within the Office.

Three further training of trainers workshops took place, two in French for West Africa and the Great Lakes region of Africa, as well as an expansion of the regional scope of the project to southern Africa. Regional follow-up activities were also strengthened. Amongst them were an experts meeting in the CIS to launch a study identifying key issues affecting children within the region, collaboration with Save the Children on military training in West Africa, and the integration of ARC materials into an OCHA capacity building initiative in Angola. Also noteworthy were regional workshops on separated children in East and West Africa, and the expansion of the ARC inter-agency training team in Pakistan. In addition, in East Africa, an advanced training of trainers workshop took place, bringing together participants of previous workshops, to evaluate progress, share experience and further develop in-country plans. The impact of ARC on UNHCR's activities in meeting the rights and protection needs of refugee children, is currently being reviewed as part of a broader independent evaluation of the Office's action in this area. A final report by the evaluation team is planned to be issued by the end of 2001. UNICEF funded translations of resource packs into French and, through Save the Children Spain, into Spanish. In addition, UNHCR Branch Office Moscow translated three of the resource packs into Russian. ARC materials have meanwhile been integrated into the UNHCR Protection and Operations Learning Programmes.

ARC Resource Packsback

1. Foundations
   • International Legal Standards
   • Child and Adolescent Development
   • Voluntary Repatriation
   • Resettlement
   • Working with Children
   • Situation Analysis
   • Community Mobilisation
2. Critical Issues
   • Separated Children
   • Child Soldiers
   • Disability
   • Education
   • Landmine Awareness
   • Sexual and Reproductive Health
   • Abuse and Exploitation
3. ARC Facilitator's Toolkit

ARC Resource Pack Abstracts

1. Foundationsback

International Legal Standards
Effective protection of refugee children requires an initial recognition of the rights to which all children are entitled. Such rights are well established under international law, and in turn, have been incorporated into UNHCR's policy on refugee children. This resource pack outlines the legal foundations for protection of refugee children, taking as its starting point the State's primary responsibility for protecting the rights of all persons within its territory, including refugee children. The resource pack examines the guiding legal principles that provide the basis for prioritised action on behalf of refugee children as provided for under the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 1951 Convention, and its 1967 Protocol, relating to the Status of Refugees.

Child and Adolescent Development
Concepts and beliefs about childhood and adolescence differ depending on place and context. This resource pack introduces a dynamic model of children's physical, cognitive, social and psychological development. It demonstrates how the needs and capacities of children, including adolescents, are significantly different from those of adults, and that armed conflict and displacement are likely to have a serious impact on their development. In addition, it considers the importance of integrating both a child rights and child development perspective into programme planning, and outlines strategies to promote child development by seeking to restore a sense of normality, and to prevent further harm.

Voluntary Repatriation
One of UNHCR's primary functions is to seek durable solutions for refugees. This resource pack focuses on voluntary repatriation and reintegration which, when feasible, is the durable solution most likely to apply to the greatest number of refugee children. It examines the basic principles that apply in respect to decisions about voluntary repatriation of children, and the particular needs and difficulties which children may face while in transit and while reintegrating into communities; and appropriate actions to meet these needs, and minimise or overcome difficulties.

Resettlement
Resettlement should be considered when other durable solutions are deemed not to be feasible and refugees are at risk in their country of refuge or have particular needs. Unaccompanied and separated children are a priority concern to UNHCR as well as minors who are under physical threat, disabled, traumatised or in need of specialist medical care not available in the country of asylum. Along with these other issues, this resource pack explores the importance of resettlement as a protection tool in cases where it preserves or restores family unity.

Working with Children
This resource pack examines some introductory concepts associated with working with children and considers the importance of effective communication in relation to a number of provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The resource pack also considers issues associated with communicating with distressed children. Principles and approaches for promoting the psychosocial well-being of children are considered, as well as the importance of cultural factors in understanding how children react to distressing experiences. It introduces the concept of resilience.

Situation Analysis
Situation analysis is the process of assessing a complex situation within its wider context. This resource pack is designed to give a broad overview of the topic of situation analysis relating to children, adolescents and families, and an introduction to the skills required. The main emphasis is on enabling participants to examine particular situations, to consider what information is required and how to acquire it, and to analyse it in order to make planning decisions. Situation analysis requires both quantitative and qualitative information, as well as an element of forecasting to take account of the long-term needs of children, including adolescents.

Community Mobilisation
Community mobilisation emphasises the involvement of the people themselves in determining and meeting their own needs. It looks at the importance of community structures for children's development, outlines the characteristics of a community mobilisation approach and examines the factors which help decision-making about re-establishing previous community structures and facilitating the setting up of new ones. It also looks at the value of mobilising women and adolescents in particular.

2. Critical Issuesback

Separated Children
Separation is a distressing experience for children in situations of conflict and displacement and can have serious long-term consequences for the child's well-being. It is vital for staff at all levels to be clearly aware of the issues facing separated children, in particular the prevention of separation, interim care arrangements and family tracing issues, and the need for close inter-agency collaboration. It is noteworthy that some of the key messages in this resource pack will be counter-intuitive for some people, for example, the disadvantages and potential dangers of institutional care, and the dangers of evacuating children from war zones.

Child Soldiers
This resource pack creates an understanding of children's active involvement in armed conflict. It focuses on measures to prevent recruitment, as well as appropriate procedures for demobilisation. Ways to facilitate social integration, such as family reunification, education and income-generating activities, are also explored. Special consideration is given to the impact of armed conflict on children's psychological and social development.

Disability
One of the major reasons why children with disabilities are discriminated against is because of other people's attitudes towards or about them. This resource pack aims to address negative attitudes towards disability and encourage participants to seek more specific knowledge so as to ensure that all children, including those with disabilities, have access to services to meet their basic needs and that they are able to exercise their rights. It explores differing concepts of disability according to regional and cultural attitudes. The resource pack promotes a social approach to disability that highlights the interaction between persons with disabilities and the environment. It also explores ways to ensure the effective protection, development and inclusion of children with disabilities.

Education
This resource pack aims to provide staff with sufficient information to assist them in ensuring that the education rights of children within their jurisdiction/care are fully met. The resource pack takes as its starting point the Convention on the Rights of the Child and relevant legal instruments that underpin every child's right to education. It stresses the importance of promptly and efficiently setting up educational activities in emergency situations. The resource pack also offers general information about education, the role of adults within the process, what should be taught and how, and how to ensure the inclusion of all children, including adolescents.

Landmine Awareness
Children as a group are seriously endangered by mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). Analysis of a given situation, and of community needs, will determine if mine education is an appropriate response. The aim of a mine education programme for children is to modify their behaviour so as to reduce the risk of them being killed or injured. This resource pack introduces the subject of mine education for children and shows how they themselves can take part in both situation analysis and mine education programmes. It also deals with the components of such programmes, and addresses the role of UNHCR and NGOs in developing policies and activities.

Sexual and Reproductive Health
Many sexual health problems for young people arise when they do not have control over their own sexual lives: they are either ill-informed or ill-equipped to deal with the consequences of their sexual activities. This resource pack considers the special skills required in working with young people to address issues of their sexuality and reproductive health, including the ability to centrally involve the young people themselves in the process of developing effective self-help strategies. This resource pack also considers key legal standards that relate to the sexual and reproductive health rights of young people and serve to support advocacy in this field, and inform policy making and programme planning.

Abuse and Exploitation
Children, including adolescents are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation during flight, in the country of asylum, and during voluntary repatriation and reintegration. Using the principles contained in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and in UNHCR guidelines and policy as a framework, this resource pack examines how refugee and displaced children may be at increased risk, explores preventive strategies, and considers how to respond when children are abused or exploited. Particular attention is paid to the prevention of, and response to, sexual exploitation of children, and the exploitative use of child labour.

3. ARC Facilitator's Toolkitback

This resource pack is intended for people who will be facilitating ARC training activities. It can be read alone as a basic introduction to training and facilitation, but it is best used in conjunction with the ARC resource packs that one is planning to use when conducting a training event. The Toolkit provides an introduction to the principles of learning, guidelines on preparing for training, and instructions on how to use the participatory training methods cited in the ARC resource packs. It also gives guidelines for writing and producing case studies, handouts and overhead projections, and suggestions for evaluating training.

Tools ARC Facilitator's Toolkit

ARC Facilitator's Toolkit PDF:

http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home/opendoc.pdf?tbl=PROTECTION&id=3c19c6c54&page=PROTECT

The Toolkit has been produced as a resource for people who will be facilitating training using ARC Resource Packs. It can be read alone as a basic introduction to facilitating training but it is best used in conjunction with the ARC Resource Packs. The content of the Toolkit is divided across several topics that broadly cover the following issues:

• principles of learning;
• guidance on preparing for training;
• guidance on how to use the participatory training methods cited in the ARC Resource Packs;
• guidance on the writing and production of handouts and overhead projections;
• suggestions for evaluating training.

If you are an experienced trainer or facilitator, then you could use the Toolkit as a reference tool or as support material to update your current practice. If you are new to training or lack experience in facilitating learning, then you might find it useful to read all of the Toolkit and then use it as a support document to assist you in planning and carrying out your training.

CONTENTS

Briefing Notes For Facilitators using The ARC Facilitator's Toolkit 2
Topic 1: Principles of Learning 3
Topic 2: Planning for the Whole Process of Training 9
Topic 3: Preparing to Facilitate a Training Event 15
Topic 4: Participatory Training Techniques 28
Topic 5: Introductions, Energisers and Quick Review Methods 48
Topic 6: Devising Case Studies, Role Plays and Exercises 55
Topic 7: The Use of Audio-Visual Aids 60
Topic 8: The Use of Handouts 63
Topic 9: Feedback and Evaluation 64

RESOURCES

Handouts 69
Further Readings 84

Acknowledgements

A number of key documents were drawn upon to produce this toolkit, including:
Tim Pickles (1995): Toolkit for Trainers. Pavilion, Brighton, England.
CMA (1995): CMA Training Skills Pack. Community Media Association, London.
UNHCR, Staff Development Section (Oct. 2000): A Strategy for Enhanced Staff Development (Draft). UNHCR, Geneva.

We are grateful for the use of these materials and particularly recommend the 'Toolkit for Trainers' as a good extended resource if you want more in-depth information.
The authors are also grateful for the support provided by various people in preparing this material including Ailsa Masterton, Nirveen Chotai and Pamela Baxter.