Innocenti Research Briefs Disrupting Harm: Online Risk and Harm for Children in Eastern and Southern Africa AUTHOR(S) Daniel Kardefelt Winther; Rogers Twesigye Published: 2023 Innocenti Research Briefs Despite gaps in some parts of the continent, the number of young people across Africa who use the internet increases every year. This increase in internet availability is already having some positive impacts in terms of creating jobs and reducing poverty, which is necessary to meet the needs of a fast-growing population. At the same time, countries need to proactively mitigate the potential increase in exposure to online risk and harm that can result when countries transition from low to high connectivity. The purpose of this report is to draw on the voices and experiences of children to provide a regional snapshot of the online harm landscape as a baseline, and urge regional and national bodies to continue mobilizing to address these harms in light of Africa’s digital transformation. The intent is not to compare countries in terms of who is doing better or worse, but to look for similarities and differences that can help us understand more about the causes and solutions for these issues and find opportunities for regional learning. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 16 | Thematic area: Child Protection, ESARO × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Daniel Kardefelt Winther; Rogers Twesigye 2023 Disrupting Harm: Online Risk and Harm for Children in Eastern and Southern Africa. , pp. 16.
Innocenti Research Briefs Making It Count: Strengthening data and evidence to prevent and respond to violence against children in East Asia and the Pacific AUTHOR(S) Ramya Subrahmanian; Manahil Siddiqi; Nicole Petrowski; Claudia Cappa Published: 2022 Innocenti Research Briefs This brief provides an overview of the data and evidence gaps on violence against children in East Asia and the Pacific. It calls for greater attention to generating, sharing and applying quality data and evidence to protect the safety and rights of children within the region. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 11 | Thematic area: Child Protection | Tags: east asia, pacific islands, sexual violence, violence, violence against children × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Ramya Subrahmanian; Manahil Siddiqi; Nicole Petrowski; Claudia Cappa 2022 Making It Count: Strengthening data and evidence to prevent and respond to violence against children in East Asia and the Pacific. , pp. 11.
Innocenti Research Briefs Strengthening child protection systems and ending child immigration detention Published: 2022 Innocenti Research Briefs This series of briefs draws on the findings of multi-country research based on first-hand migration experiences of 1,634 children and young people moving between Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt (available at www.unicef-irc.org/child-migration-hoa). The briefs highlight findings that can inform decision makers when designing child-sensitive solutions for children on the move, in line with relevant objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 9 | Thematic area: Child Protection | Tags: child protection, children in detention, immigration × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION 2022 Strengthening child protection systems and ending child immigration detention. , pp. 9.
Innocenti Research Briefs Access to Basic Services Published: 2022 Innocenti Research Briefs This series of briefs draws on the findings of multi-country research based on first-hand migration experiences of 1,634 children and young people moving between Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt (available at www.unicef-irc.org/child-migration-hoa).The briefs highlight findings that can inform decision makers when designing child-sensitive solutions for children on the move, in line with relevant objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 9 | Thematic area: Child Protection | Tags: access to basic services, child protection, children in detention, immigration × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION 2022 Access to Basic Services. , pp. 9.
Innocenti Working Papers Evidence matters – now more than ever: Results from a review of UNICEF’s evidence on COVID-19 and child protection AUTHOR(S) Manahil Siddiqi; Ramya Subrahmanian Published: 2021 Innocenti Working Papers There is no question that the COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting the lives and rights of children. Early on, the pandemic rapidly sparked research on child protection across the globe. In the barrage of information on COVID-19, evidence is key to understanding children’s situations and to developing the best solutions. This review takes stock of UNICEF’s rapidly evolving evidence base on COVID-19 and child protection and describes what has been learned so far from this evidence base on the impacts of COVID-19 on child protection and the response measures put in place since the pandemic. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 33 | Thematic area: Child Protection | Tags: child protection, COVID-19, research × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Manahil Siddiqi; Ramya Subrahmanian 2021 Evidence matters – now more than ever: Results from a review of UNICEF’s evidence on COVID-19 and child protection. , pp. 33.
Innocenti Research Report Child Marriage and Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program: Analysis of protective pathways in the Amhara region AUTHOR(S) Maja Gavrilovic; Tia Palermo; Elsa Valli; Francesca Viola; Vincenzo Vinci; Karin Heissler; Mathilde Renault; Ana Gabriela Guerrero Serdan; Essa Chanie Mussa Published: 2020 Innocenti Research Report Emerging evidence suggests that social protection programmes can have a positive role in delaying marriage for girls. But the pathways and design features by which programmes may influence child marriage outcomes remain unknown. This mixed-methods study explores whether and how the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) in Ethiopia, given its national reach and potential to address poverty, can also affect child marriage practice. It draws on descriptive quantitative and qualitative data from an ongoing impact evaluation of the Integrated Safety Net Program (ISNP) pilot in the Amhara region. It finds that PSNP, through an economic channel, is effective in reducing financial pressures on families to marry off girls and in improving girls’ education opportunities. Income-strengthening measures must, however, be accompanied by complementary efforts – including girls’ empowerment, awareness-raising and legal measures – to transform deep-rooted social and gender norms and attitudes that perpetuate the harmful practice of child marriage. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 83 | Thematic area: Child Protection | Tags: child marriage, child protection, gender issues, social norms × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Maja Gavrilovic; Tia Palermo; Elsa Valli; Francesca Viola; Vincenzo Vinci; Karin Heissler; Mathilde Renault; Ana Gabriela Guerrero Serdan; Essa Chanie Mussa 2020 Child Marriage and Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program: Analysis of protective pathways in the Amhara region. , pp. 83.
Innocenti Research Briefs Child Marriage and Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program: Analysis of protective pathways in the Amhara region – Summary of report findings Published: 2020 Innocenti Research Briefs Emerging evidence suggests that social protection programmes can have a positive role in delaying marriage for girls. But the pathways and design features by which programmes may influence child marriage outcomes remain unknown. This mixed-methods study explores whether and how the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) in Ethiopia, given its national reach and potential to address poverty, can also affect child marriage practice. It draws on descriptive quantitative and qualitative data from an ongoing impact evaluation of the Integrated Safety Net Program (ISNP) pilot in the Amhara region. It finds that PSNP, through an economic channel, is effective in reducing financial pressures on families to marry off girls and in improving girls’ education opportunities. Income-strengthening measures must, however, be accompanied by complementary efforts – including girls’ empowerment, awareness-raising and legal measures – to transform deep-rooted social and gender norms and attitudes that perpetuate the harmful practice of child marriage. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 5 | Thematic area: Child Protection | Tags: child marriage, gender issues, social norms × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION 2020 Child Marriage and Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program: Analysis of protective pathways in the Amhara region – Summary of report findings. , pp. 5.
Innocenti Research Briefs Interventions to Reduce Violence against Children in Low- and Middle-income Countries. Pillar 5: Income and economic strengthening AUTHOR(S) Ramya Subrahmanian; Howard White; Ashrita Saran Published: 2020 Innocenti Research Briefs The production of evidence on interventions for reducing violence against children (VAC) has steadily increased over the years. Yet, gaps exist that need to be addressed when it comes to research investment priorities and future studies. An Evidence Gap Map provides an overview of available evidence on the topic and eight briefs summarize the findings. This brief focuses on ‘Income and economic strengthening' interventions to reduce violence against children in low- and middle-income countries. All technical details can be reviewed in the main report. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 7 | Thematic area: Child Protection, Violence Against Children | Tags: violence against children × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Ramya Subrahmanian; Howard White; Ashrita Saran 2020 Interventions to Reduce Violence against Children in Low- and Middle-income Countries. Pillar 5: Income and economic strengthening. , pp. 7.
Innocenti Research Briefs What is encryption and why does it matter for children? AUTHOR(S) UNICEF’s Cross-divisional Working Group on Child Online Protection Published: 2020 Innocenti Research Briefs Encryption encodes information so that it can only be read by certain people. ‘End-to-end’ is a robust form of encryption where only the users communicating can read the information. In other words, third parties – such as service providers – cannot decrypt the information. It matters for children because while it protects their data and right to privacy and freedom of expression, it also impedes efforts to monitor and remove child sexual abuse materials and to identify offenders attempting to exploit children online. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 2 | Thematic area: Child Protection, Kids online, Rights of the Child | Tags: child protection, data protection, internet, law enforcement, privacy × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION UNICEF’s Cross-divisional Working Group on Child Online Protection 2020 What is encryption and why does it matter for children?. , pp. 2.
Innocenti Working Papers Encryption, Privacy and Children’s Right to Protection from Harm AUTHOR(S) Daniel Kardefelt Winther; Emma Day; Gabrielle Berman; Sabine K. Witting; Anjan Bose Published: 2020 Innocenti Working Papers This working paper provides a short overview of the challenges and opportunities related to child protection and the use of encryption technology. While it does not constitute the UNICEF organizational position on the topic, it is meant to inform UNICEF on the issue and to reach and engage professionals, including nonexperts, within and between the child rights and privacy rights sectors. This paper will provide an overview of the debate around encryption and its possible impact on children’s right to protection from harm. It also reflects on the pros and cons of some proposed solutions. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 13 | Thematic area: Child Protection | Tags: child protection, internet, law enforcement, privacy, right to privacy × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Daniel Kardefelt Winther; Emma Day; Gabrielle Berman; Sabine K. Witting; Anjan Bose 2020 Encryption, Privacy and Children’s Right to Protection from Harm. , pp. 13.
Innocenti Working Papers Impacts of Pandemics and Epidemics on Child Protection: Lessons learned from a rapid review in the context of COVID-19 AUTHOR(S) Shivit Bakrania; Cirenia Chávez; Alessandra Ipince; Matilde Rocca; Sandy Oliver; Claire Stansfield; Ramya Subrahmanian Published: 2020 Innocenti Working Papers This rapid review collates and synthesizes evidence on the child protection impacts of COVID-19 and previous pandemics, epidemics and infectious disease outbreaks. It provides lessons for global and national responses to COVID19 and recommendations for future research priorities. The evidence on the impacts of pandemics and epidemics on child protection outcomes is limited and skewed towards studies on the effects of HIV/AIDS on stigma. There is also some evidence on the effects of Ebola on outcomes such as orphanhood, sexual violence and exploitation, and school enrolment, attendance and dropout. The evidence on other pandemics or epidemics, including COVID-19, is extremely limited.There are various pathways through which infectious disease outbreaks can exacerbate vulnerabilities, generate new risks and result in negative outcomes for children. Outcomes are typically multi-layered, with immediate outcomes for children, families and communities - such as being orphaned, stigmatization and discrimination and reductions in household income - leading to further negative risks and outcomes for children in the intermediate term. These risks include child labour and domestic work, harmful practices (including early marriage), and early and adolescent pregnancy. Lessons from previous pandemics and epidemics suggest that the following could mitigate the child protection risks:Responding to children in vulnerable circumstances, including orphans (e.g. throughpsychosocial interventions focused on improving mental health and community-based interventions that provide families with resources and access to services)Responding to stigmatization and discrimination (e.g. throughinformation and communication campaigns and support from public health systems, communities and schools)Investing in social protectionenable livelihoods during outbreaks and to counteract shocksPromoting access to health, protective and justice services, which may be restricted or suspending during infectious disease outbreaksEnsuring continued access to education, particularly for girls, who may be adversely affectedThere is a high burden of proof for data collection during the current COVID-19 outbreak than there would be in normal circumstances. Evidence generation strategies during and after the COVID-19 crisis should consider rigorous retrospective reviews and building upon monitoring, evidence and learning functions of pre-existing programmes – particularly where there is ongoing longitudinal data collection. There should also be efforts to synthesize evidence from existing research on the effectiveness of interventions that respond to the key risk pathways identified in this review. The research brief can be found here.Access the Evidence Gap Map on child protection and violence outcomes here.Access the study protocol here. + - Cite this publication | Thematic area: Child Protection | Tags: child labour, child protection, COVID-19, COVID-19 response, education, HIV and AIDS, mental health, outbreak preparedness, pandemic, public policy, school dropouts × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Shivit Bakrania; Cirenia Chávez; Alessandra Ipince; Matilde Rocca; Sandy Oliver; Claire Stansfield; Ramya Subrahmanian 2020 Impacts of Pandemics and Epidemics on Child Protection: Lessons learned from a rapid review in the context of COVID-19.
Innocenti Working Papers Study Protocol: Impacts of Pandemics and Epidemics on Child Protection Lessons learned from a rapid review in the context of COVID-19 AUTHOR(S) Shivit Bakrania; Cirenia Chávez; Alessandra Ipince; Matilde Rocca; Sandy Oliver; Claire Stansfield; Ramya Subrahmanian Published: 2020 Innocenti Working Papers This protocol details the aims, scope and methodology used for the rapid review titled: “Impacts of Pandemics and Epidemics on Child Protection: Lessons learned from a rapid review in the context of COVID-19." The full report can be found here.The research brief can be found here.Access the Evidence Gap Map on child protection and violence outcomes here. + - Cite this publication | No. of pages: 18 | Thematic area: Child Protection | Tags: COVID-19 × COPY BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION Shivit Bakrania; Cirenia Chávez; Alessandra Ipince; Matilde Rocca; Sandy Oliver; Claire Stansfield; Ramya Subrahmanian 2020 Study Protocol: Impacts of Pandemics and Epidemics on Child Protection Lessons learned from a rapid review in the context of COVID-19. , pp. 18.