SCS has long years of experience in Child Protection in Ethiopia. The ultimate goal of the program is to protect children from violence, including exploitation, neglect or other forms of abuse of children with a focus on Juvenile Justice, Sexual abuse and Exploitation and corporal punishment.
The main objectives are creating access to child protection services, promoting child participation, integrating discriminated children in child protection structures and promoting coordination and networking among civil societies and relevant stakeholders.
To this end SCS Ethiopia Program, in collaboration with its partners and stakeholders, works to set up systems and mechanisms to prevent, protect and respond to violence against children that contributes to the establishment of National Child Protection System.
The followings Model child protection services can be taken as good examples of achievements of its previous unreserved efforts:
Police Child Protection Units (CPUs) were initiated in 1996 at 10 police stations in Addis Ababa. Currently more than 60 CPU are operational throughout the country
Child Friendly Courts were introduced for sexually abused children in 2004 in A.A at the Federal First Instance Court, Tigray and Nazareth where victim children give testimonies in separate rooms without facing the abuser. Affected children by violence are assisted by intermediaries during the court process. This model has been replicated in different parts of the country. A model Juvenile bench for Child Offenders has also been setup at the Federal First Instance court in Addis Ababa in 2005.
Community Based Correction System has been introduced in 1999 at different Sub cities of Addis Ababa( Diversion) for children between the age 9-15 who have committed minor offences for the first time. The program aims at providing counselling, tutorial classes and recreational services. Parents, community workers and community elders support the program
A manual on positive child disciplining has been developed in 2007 as alternatives to Physical and Humiliating Punishments and endorsed by the Ministry of Women Affairs
Save the Children Sweden is working in collaboration with the Police University College for the inclusion of child protection in the curriculum police training institutes
To attain its objectives, SCS will continues its efforts by giving emphasis to establish/strengthen community child protection mechanisms/systems, empower model parents to promote positive forms of child disciplining and gender equitable relationship. Children are being equipped with skills to learn addressing gender based violence. To facilitate this, emphasis is being given to work with boys and young men to address gender based violence against children
Contact Information
Ms Alemtsehay Mulat
Senior Program Officer,
Tel +251113210941 (Direct)
+251113210960 (Pbx)
Fax +251113214234
Email- alemtsehaym@ecaf.savethechidlren.se