Glossary of Definitions
A
Advocacy
A series of planned and strategic actions to influence the formulation and implementation of public policies at the local, national, regional or global levels.
Advocacy Asks
Benchmark guidelines that represent the minimum necessary to prevent and respond to violence against children.
Agenda 2030
On September 25th 2015, the world’s nations adopted Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “Agenda 2030” is a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years.
C
Child
In line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child is defined as anyone under the age of 18 years.
Child Participation
All activities conducive to the realization of children’s right to have their opinions taken into account in the decision-making processes that affect their lives, according to their level of maturity.
Child Protection
Measures and structures to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect exploitation and violence against children.
Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE)
Preventing and responding to abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence against children in times of emergency caused by natural or manmade disasters, conflicts or other crises. It involves specific activities by child protection actors, whether national or community based, and/or by humanitarian staff and others supporting local capacity.
Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPHA)
The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action defines Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPHA) as the prevention of and response to abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence against children in humanitarian action.
Child Safeguarding
Within the ChildFund Alliance, refers to the set of organizational policy guidelines, procedures and practices that we employ to ensure that we do no harm to children. Our aim is to ensure that everyone associated with the Alliance is aware of and responds appropriately to issues of violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect towards children.
Child-Friendly Accountability
The ability to make certain that those charged with protecting and fulfilling children’s rights actually do what they are supposed to do and if they do not or cannot, that children and their representatives have some recourse.
ChildFund Alliance Committees
- Alliance Program Committee (APC)
- Communications and Marketing Committee (CMC)
- Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Working Group
Committee on the Rights of the Child
The group of 18 independent experts who monitor implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Multilateral human rights treaty that promotes the rights of all children worldwide. Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on November 20, 1989.
D
Department for International Development (DFID)
Leads the United Kingdom’s work to “end extreme poverty, building a safer, healthier, more prosperous world for all.”
Disaster Risk Management (DRM)
Efforts to prevent or lessen the effects of disasters.
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
Work that seeks to diminish damage caused by natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, droughts and cyclones, through an ethic of prevention.
E
Emergencies
Situations where lives, physical and mental well-being, or development opportunities for children are threatened as a result of armed conflict, disaster or the breakdown of social or legal order.
G
Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children
Partnership formed in September 2015 for governments, international organizations, civil society, faith-based organizations, the private sector and the philanthropic arena to deliver on SDG target 16.2. Partners include ChildFund Alliance, Plan International, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages International, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and World Vision International.
H
High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
The United Nations central platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Humanitarian response
The aid and action designed to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain and protect human dignity during and in the aftermath of man-made crises and natural disasters, as well as to prevent and strengthen preparedness for the occurrence of such situations. (Adapted from: Good Humanitarian Donorship.)
K
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Measures that focus on both process and performance, for evaluating advocacy achievements.
O
Overseas Development Institute (ODI)
The United Kingdom’s leading independent think tank on international development and humanitarian issues. ODI was commissioned by ChildFund Alliance to produce a report on “The Costs and Economic Impact of Violence Against Children” (September 2014).
P
Presence countries
Nations where ChildFund Alliance is working through a member organization office or an affiliated national or country office.
S
Sexual Exploitation of Children
Is a form of child sexual abuse and is a criminal offense. A child cannot legally give informed consent to sexual exploitation.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The 17 SDGs are universal goals that seek to eliminate key development challenges in the world. They appear in Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted unanimously by the United Nations in September 2015 after a multi-year process of consultation and negotiation. SDG target 16.2 and its related targets focus on eliminating violence against children.
U
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
A humanitarian and development agency working globally for the rights of every child.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
The office that coordinates disaster reduction activity within the United Nations system and with regional organizations.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
The lead United Nations agency that expands the possibilities for women and young people to lead healthy sexual and reproductive lives.
V
Violence against Children
All forms of harm (whether described as violence, injury, abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment and exploitation), perpetrated by an individual or group of people, resulting in actual or potential hard to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity. Violence may be: sexual violence; physical violence; emotional violence; neglect or negligent treatment.
W
World Health Organization (WHO)
Directs and coordinates international health within the United Nations system.