Ninth Regional Consultation of Child Helplines in Africa Report Developing Progressive and Sustainable Child Helplines to Protect Children and Young People in Africa 18- 20 September 2017 Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Supported by and Every child has a voice. We believe that no child should be left unheard. childhelplineinternational.org Contents Executive summary ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 The importance of child helplines ................................................................................................................ 4 How can children contact a child helpline?.................................................................................................. 4 Page | 2 What do child helplines offer? ..................................................................................................................... 4 Child Helpline International .......................................................................................................................... 5 Childline Zimbabwe ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Importance of the Regional Consultation of African child helplines ............................................................ 6 1. Day zero: Sunday 17th September, 2017 ............................................................................................... 7 2. Day one: Monday 18th September, 2017 ................................................................................................ 7 2.1. Market place and registration .......................................................................................................... 7 2.2. Opening Session ............................................................................................................................. 7 2.3. Press Conference ............................................................................................................................ 8 2.4. Updates from Child Helpline International ....................................................................................... 8 2.5. Key note interventions ................................................................................................................... 10 2.6. Training: Online Safety for child helplines counsellors in Africa facilitated by Facebook .............. 11 2.7. Parallels sessions .......................................................................................................................... 12 a) Regional meeting of child helplines in Africa ................................................................................. 12 b) Child Helpline International’s 2016-2020 strategy ......................................................................... 13 3. Day two: Tuesday 19th September, 2017 ............................................................................................... 14 3.1. Panel discussion: Increasing the reach of the harmonized 116 number for child helplines in Africa and enhancing the work with telecoms and regulators ............................................................................. 14 3.2. Feedback and recommendation from the YOUth forum ................................................................ 14 3.3. Round table: the importance of partnership for the sustainability of child helpline ....................... 16 3.4. The work of Childline Zimbabwe ................................................................................................... 18 a) Child helpline presentation ............................................................................................................ 18 b) Launch of 116 App ......................................................................................................................... 19 3.5. Celebration of the 20th anniversary of Childline Zimbabwe ........................................................... 20 4. Day 3: Wednesday 20th September, 2017 ............................................................................................. 21 4.1. Panel discussion: The use of data for the improvement of the child protection systems in Africa 21 4.2. Round table: the role of child helpline on issues affecting children in Africa ................................. 21 4.3. Training: the role of child helplines addressing FGM .................................................................... 23 4.4. HIV and child protection from the perspective of child helplines ................................................... 24 5. Closing remarks ..................................................................................................................................... 24 ANNEX 1: Agenda ......................................................................................................................................... 26 Annex 2: List of participants .......................................................................................................................... 30 Every child has a voice. We believe that no child should be left unheard. childhelplineinternational.org Executive summary This report outlines the discussions and outcomes of the Ninth Regional Consultation of Child Helplines in Africa, which was held from 18th to 20th of September 2017 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. This important event was hosted by Childline Zimbabwe. Page | 3 The conference was attended by over one hundred and ten participants from 37 countries from Africa and beyond including representatives from organisations working on child protection, emergency, HIV/AIDS, CSEA, VAC; industries and telecoms such as Plan International RESA, UNICEF ESARO, Plan International countries offices, UNICEF Country offices, Word Education Incorporation- WEI, the Fund For Peace, FORWARD; and Child Helpline International and the members in the region as well. Child Helpline International network in Africa is composed of 34 members in 31 countries. In 2016, 12 of the 34 abovementioned child helplines collectively received more than 2 million calls from children and young people with topics focused on; abuse and violence, school-related topics and education, basics needs, sexuality and sexual awareness. Child helplines are an essential part of child protection systems and should have continuous access for children across all African regions. Although, in reality many child helplines are struggling to capture and share the voices of children and young people because of lack of staffing; inadequate management of calls, case management, and date collection software; insufficiency of financial resources, and limited use of ICTs to increase access to child helplines. The Ninth Regional Consultation was a great opportunity for child helplines and partners working in Africa and beyond to meet and discuss on developing progressive and sustainable child helplines to protect children and young people in Africa and address topics such as: • Child helplines contributions to the achievement of the SDGs and the AU Agenda 2040 for children in Africa, • Child Online Protection and safety, • Increasing the reach of the harmonised 116 number for child helplines in Africa, • Enhancing the work with telecoms and regulators, • The importance of partnership for the sustainability of child helplines, • The use of data for the improvement of the child protection systems in Africa • The role of child helplines in issues affecting children in Africa. Child Helpline International would like to thank everyone involved in the organisation, participation and hosting of the Ninth Regional Consultation of child helplines in Africa. Worthy of special mention is the support received from UNICEF, Plan International Offices and CAPE in Senegal in sponsorship of members and for their participation in the meeting; the presenters and our host Childline Zimbabwe. A special thanks to the team of Child Helpline International – Childline Zimbabwe organising team for the amazing job in execution of the regional consultation. This report outlines the sessions, discussions and outcomes of the Ninth Regional Consultation of Child Helplines in Africa. The detailed programme is enclosed in Annex two. The presentations are available (in the language that they were presented) here. Pictures from the event are found here. Every child has a voice. We believe that no child should be left unheard. childhelplineinternational.org Introduction The importance of child helplines Child helplines help and support services for children and are run by civil society organisations, and in some cases, by government bodies. Page | 4 Child helplines base their work on the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The UNCRC spells out the basic human rights that children everywhere have; the right to survival, to develop to the fullest, to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life. The UNCRC also specifically gives children the right to be heard and to express their views without fear of harm or reprisal. Child helplines help ensure all children have the opportunity to be heard. Child helplines also adhere to the four core principles of