ANNUAL REPORT 2017 DCI ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Find Us Email: [email protected] Website: www.defenceforchildren.org Facebook: @Defence4Children Twitter: @DCIsecretariat / @DCIdirector LinkedIn: Defence for Children International- International Secretariat DEFENCE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL (DCI) - INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT 1, rue de Varembé, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland P.O Box 88, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland +41 22 734 05 58 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2018. MATERIALS CONTAINED IN THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE FREELY QUOTED OR REPRINTED, PROVIDED CREDIT IS GIVEN TO THE SOURCE. DCI ANNUAL REPORT 2017 table of contents P a g e N o FOREWORD 04 DEFENCE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL (DCI) - 06 GOVERNANCE 1. About us - Actors for Justice, Advocates for rights 2. International Genera l Assembly (IGA) 201 7 3. Strategic Framework 2 01 7-2021 : Vision and R oadmap 4. Participatory Governance 5. Presence in the World 6. IEC Composition 7. Composition of the Advisory Committee 8. Staff at the International S ecretariat 201 7 RAISING AWARENESS ON CHILDREN'S RIGHTS 13 1. International advocacy at the UN 2. Regional advocacy FROM INTERNATIONAL TO NATIONAL: REALIZING 20 DCI'S THEMATIC PRIORITIES & CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AROUND THE WORLD 1. Justice for Children 2. Eliminating Violence against Children 3. Children on the Move 4. Children affected by Conflict 5. Cross-Cutting issues 6. The World Service Foundation FINANCIAL FACTS 49 1. Financial S tatements 2. Our donors & partners 3. Report of the Auditor OBJECTIVES & GOALS 2018 52 GLOSSARY 54 0 3 DCI ANNUAL REPORT 2017 FOREWORD In March 2017, DCI held i ts 12th Internati onal General Assembly (IGA) – an ever-important event for the DCI Movement as i t only occurs once every four to five years. The IGA allows for DCI Nati onal Sections to foster debates, celebrate successes, and most importantly, reflect on potential upcoming challenges and priori ti es. On this occasion, we had both the wonderful opportuni ty of welcoming new secti ons that have joined in the time since our last IGA of 2012, and the regrettable task of bidding farewell to those whi ch have had to leave the Movement. Nonetheless, DCI continued to look forward as the IGA served as the perfect time to adopt a new global strategy aimi ng to unite the Movement into one voi ce through the coming years, the Strategi c Framework 2017-2021, defining our four major priori ti es (Justice for Children, Violence agai nst Chi ldren, Chi ldren on the Move, and Children affected by Confli ct) and our three cross-cutti ng i ssues (children deprived of liberty, child parti cipati on, and gender). As of March 2017, the Movement i s proudly represented with 35 Nati onal Secti ons and 3 Associate Members across 5 conti nents. However, while we note the i mportance of creati ng a global presence through our i ncreasi ng Nati onal Secti ons, we recognize that our pri orities would be better placed on buildi ng coherence wi thi n the exi sti ng Movement, namely by achi eving balanced geographical distri buti on and speaki ng wi th one voice as the leadi ng child ri ghts-focused and membership-based grassroots movement we are. These focuses will allow the Movement to become stronger and more cohesive whi le dually encouraging change i n a sustai nable way and ensuring the fulfi lment of chi ldren’s ri ghts throughout di fferent scales. Our value as a Movement lies precisely i n our active engagement at all levels: local, nati onal, regional and i nternati onal. Nati onal Secti ons influence real changes on the ground ensuring the effective implementati on of the UN Conventi on on the Rights of the Chi ld (UNCRC), by employi ng a variety of means includi ng leading advocacy campaigns and lobbying activities wi th nati onal authorities, gi vi ng di rect assi stance to children to ensure their ri ghts are respected, bui ldi ng the capacity of key child ri ghts stakeholders, and fostering a chi ld ri ghts-based approach to laws, 0 4 DCI ANNUAL REPORT 2017 policies and programmes. The International Secretariat (IS), based in Geneva, ensures that chi ldren’s realities are heard on an i nternational level, as well as understood and fully recogni zed by multi lateral arenas in Geneva. Perhaps most i mportantly, the IS pursues the accountabi li ty of States for the fulfillment of the human rights of chi ldren. Thanks to DCI’s persi stence in monitoring the status of chi ldren’s ri ghts globally, we have been able to conclude that despi te considerable progress, the implementati on of the UNCRC has been qui te meagre in i ts capabi li ty to bring about effective policy reforms or in verifyi ng consistent follow-ups and data collection regarding cri ti cal issues, such as children depri ved of liberty. In response, DCI launched a campai gn i n 2014 and lobbied for the UN General Assembly to pass a resoluti on requesting a Global Study on Children Depri ved of Li berty (GSCDL). Today, wi th more than 150 NGOs supporting the study, the process of data collecti on, good practices and alternatives to custodial measures have begun. 2017 was a pivotal year in the progressi on of the UN Global Study on Children Depri ved of Li berty (GSCDL) - DCI’s mi lestone project. After the appointment of the Independent Expert, Professor Manfred Nowak, i n October 2016, DCI as co-convener of the NGO Panel for the Study, together with Human Ri ghts Watch (HRW), provided notable support as it entered the implementation phase. With the support of two long-standing donor states – Austria and Switzerland, as well as new donors who came aboard at a vi tal time – funding obstacles were qui ckly overcome, allowi ng progress to begi n and securing an optimi sti c end to 2017 with the promi se of delivering the Global Study. Subsequently, DCI alongside the NGO Panel called for additional funding and looked to i n-kind contributions as an alternati ve form of funding. Among others, DCI organi sed an African Regional Consultation pertaining to the Global Study i n Addis Ababa, Ethiopi a in May 2018. The UN General Assembly i n New York then granted an extensi on for the Study delivery until October 2019. Currently, research has begun for all focus areas with DCI taking a leadershi p role in the process. With 2019 just around the corner, the upcomi ng year promi ses to be special for DCI. Beyond the Global Study deli very, 2019 looks forward to both the 30th anniversary of the UNCRC and the 40th anni versary of the DCI Movement. In order to honour these anniversari es, DCI believes we need to work diligently to advance our strategic pri orities as a way to guarantee the rights of the chi ld as a reality, face challenges, and empower chi ldren to become key actors and human ri ghts defenders themselves. We often clai m that children are the future, but we must also learn to recogni ze thei r capabilities to affect the present – and all we have to do is listen to them. Abdul Manafff Kemokai Alex Kamarotos President of the DCI Movement Executive Director of DCI-IS 0 5 DCI ANNUAL REPORT 2017 DEFENCE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL (DCI) - GOVERNANCE DEFENCE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL (DCI) is a leading child rights-focused and membership- based grassroots movement, founded 1. ABOUT US – in 1979 – the first International Year of the Child. ACTORS FOR DCI’s mandate is to ensure ongoing, JUSTICE, practical, systematic and concerted ADVOCATES FOR action directed towards effective implementation of the human rights RIGHTS articulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) by means of DCI's effective co-ordination at different levels (national, regional and international) and its active membership within key networks and fora. DCI believes in a holistic approach to the rights of the child, including empowerment of children as actors for justice and advocates of their own human rights. DCI has special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), UNICEF, UNESCO, the ILO and the Council of Europe. DCI also has observer status with the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), the Inter- American Court on Human Rights and the League for Arab States, among others. Moreover, DCI maintains a close relationship with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC)and other key agencies and experts on the human rights of children. The DCI international Movement can be found across 5 continents and is composed of 35 National Sections, 3 Associated Members, 4 Regional Desks, an International Secretariat in Geneva (under Swiss law), and a World Service Foundation in Brussels (under Belgian law). DCI National Sections have their own legal status and are led by local child rights defenders committed to upholding the rights of the child through strategic action and effective empowerment of children. 0 6 DCI ANNUAL REPORT 2017 RAISING AWARENESS & DCI conducts strategic DCI National Sections and evidence-based ADVOCATING AT ALL LEVELS provide direct services advocacy and lobbying to children, for instance initiatives at local, PROTECTING & EMPOWERING through their Socio- national, regional and Legal Defence Centres OF CHILDREN international levels to (SLDCs), and empowers bring about necessary them to thrive and policy and practice HOW WE become actors of changes change BRING CHANGE DCI intervenes in various fora to share its expertise SHARING EXPERTISE & DCI produces relevant on child rights issues BUILDING CAPACITIES research and monitoring and strives to strengthen reports and practical the capacities of tools for action based on professionals working PRODUCING PRACTICAL TOOLS field data directly with children FOR ACTION The International General Assembly (IGA) is DCI’s highest governing body, composed of one or more representative(s) from each DCI National Section.