and Mozambique. The impact of these marriages include: health complication, physical
and sexual abuse, poverty, inequality and lack of education. Ms Koshal underlined that
the indicators and data required for child marriage are:
-
Percentage of women married before 18 who are subjected to violence (Sources of
data- UNICEF, national demographic survey);
Total and age-specific rate of women subjected to psychological violence;
Number of child marriage reported to police, and prosecuted and convicted;
Existence of national strategy and plan of action; and
Consultations with target population on accessing services for child survivors of
violence.
The presentations indicated prevention strategies as mobilization and sensitization of
communities and offering alternatives to girls. Finally, responses to child marriage were
outlined by Ms Koshal that include screening, legal aid, counseling, including men and
boys in response, sensitization and elimination of structural barriers.
12.3. Conflict and Crisis session
This session was facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
and Save the Children using role plays on conflicts and crises in different contexts
(Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Botswana and South Sudan). The intention was to ensure
capturing of issues and strategies for addressing conflicts and related crises in the
abovementioned countries as a way of experience sharing.
The key issues emerging from the role plays included violations of children in
institutions including Quranic schools, drop out of children from school during conflicts,
unaccompanied children and those of refugees not well supported despite having laws
and frameworks on education and addressing violations, lack of coordination within
government ministries and agencies in addressing violence during conflicts, and paying
lip service to child participation during conflicts and crises. It was observed that
Children’s basic needs and rights are neglected in conflict and crisis situations. Underresourcing of institutions and organs for addressing the concerns of unaccompanied
children is another challenge.
During the play, the participants were acting like the ACERWC and hence gave
recommendations to the four States on the concerns raised. It was recommended that
States should develop an action plan that targets prevention and responds to the needs
of children affected by conflict and crisis. Actions should be undertaken by all partners
and support should be solicited at all levels. Furthermore, it was emphasized that a
proper structure should be developed to implement and monitor the action plan.
Training on human rights for the military, protection of schools from attacks, and
provision of basic services for refugee and displaced children were also raised as
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