'Absent breadwinners': father-child connections and paternal support in rural South Africa - Sangeetha Madhavan et al

The sites for earning a living and for maintaining a family, of production and reproduction, remain geographically separated for many South Africans. Yet the common assumption that only fathers who live with their children provide support for them, substantially underestimates fathers' financial contributions to their children. In this article, we examine the association between children's connections to their fathers and paternal support. Using data on 272 children collected as part of a study of children's well-being and social connections in the Agincourt sub-district of Mpumalanga, South Africa, we identify three types of connection between children and their fathers and four levels of paternal support. We present empirical evidence on histories of children's residence and support to advance three propositions: first, that children's co-residence with their fathers is neither an accurate nor a sufficient indicator that they are receiving paternal financial support; second, thildren are as likely to receive financial support from fathers who are not even members of the same household as from fathers with whom they are co-resident and, finally that children who receive support from their fathers for any part of their lives are likely to receive support consistently throughout their lives. These findings underscore the importance of using a more nuanced conceptualisation and more inclusive measurement of father connection and support in order to determine the contributions that men make to their children. Children born since 1991 are significantly less likely to receive support from their fathers than are those born before. This difference is not a reflection of different levels of support for children of different ages but is due to real changes in paternal action.
From: Journal of Southern African Studies, Vol. 34 no. 1 (September 2008)

Buying innocence: child-sex tourists in Thailand - Heather Montgomery

Based on ethnographic work in a small community in Thailand, this article looks at different categories of sex tourists, analysing what particular qualities they find attractive in Thai children and women. It will argue that the boundaries between tourists who have sex with children, and those who have sex with adults, are extremely permeable and that there may not always be a distinct difference between the two categories of men. Child-sex tourism does not occur in a vacuum and cannot be separated from more general social, economic and cultural concerns, which are often overlooked in analyses. There is a premium on youth among many clients of Thai prostitutes and the actual age of a child is usually irrelevant to all but a small minority of abusers. Instead a situation has developed in which women are infantilised while children are seen as precociously adult, and the distinctions between child and adult and innocence and experience are deliberately blurred.
From: Third World Quarterly, Vol. 29 no. 5 (2008)

Online "Predators" and their victims

Myths, realities, and implications for prevention and treatment

Published in: American Psychologist, 65(2) 111-128, 2008
Via: Docuticker

Contrary to stereotype, most Internet sex offenders are not adults who target young children by posing as another youth, luring children to meetings, and then abducting or forcibly raping them, according to researchers at the University of New Hampshire who have studied the nature of Internet-initiated sex crimes.

Rather, most online sex offenders are young adults who target teens and seduce victims into sexual relationships. They take time to develop the trust and confidence of victims, so that the youth see these relationships as romances or sexual adventures. The youth most vulnerable to online sex offenders have histories of sexual or physical abuse, family problems, and tendencies to take risks both on- and offline, according to the researchers at the UNH Crimes against Children Research Center

(http://www.apa.org/journals/releases/amp632111.pdf)

State of the world's street children: violence

Helping policy-makers, activists, community leaders and service providers to understand street children’s lives and needs

Authors: Sarah Thomas de Benitez
Publisher: Consortium for Street Children , 2007
Via: Eldis

This report aims to promote a better understanding of street children’s lives and encourage policy-makers, activists, community leaders and service providers to take effective actions to prevent and reduce violence experienced by street children.

(http://www.streetchildren.org.uk/reports
/State%20of%20the%20World's%20Street%20Children-Violence.pdf)

Climate change and children

Examining the effects of climate change on young people and children

Authors: A. Veneman
Publisher: United Nations [UN] Children's Fund , 2007
Via: Eldis

This publication seeks to give children a voice on climate change, which has become a growing concern for them. This paper discusses the effects of climate change on children and young people focusing in particular on the following issues: Natural Disaster, Disease, Water, Food Security, Trees, Energy, Action and Advocacy.

(http://www.ecdgroup.com/docs/lib_004700305.pdf)

Adolescents and civil engagement: social engagement and young people

Examining worldwide practices of youth social entrepreneurship

Authors: S. Maak
Published by: Child Rights Information Network , 2007
Via: Eldis

The term “social entrepreneurship” has emerged as a recognisable field in development work with young people. This growing interest began in the 1980s with the emergence of two schools of practice that aimed to invest in young people to promote positive social change and innovative solutions that can be sustained and replicated. This study aims to trace the origins of the concept of social entrepreneurship and how it has been applied in the work of the some of the key international agencies and NGOs that promote it, and to review its implications for the mandate and work of UNICEF with adolescents and young people.

(http://www.crin.org/docs/learning.pdf)

In the best interests of the child

Harmonising laws in Eastern and Southern Africa

Published by: African child policy forum, 2007
Via: Eldis

This report reviews and analyses how far 19 Eastern and Southern African countries have gone in harmonising and implementing the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC, or 'the African Charter').

The report gives an overview of states' performance in all the general principles of the CRC and the African Charter. Issues addressed range from whether states have an overarching definition of a child to looking at provisions protecting children from violence and exploitation, and children's participation. It shows the progress that is underway, but also identifies the gaps that remain between aspiration and practice. This report identifies specific issues that need immediate attention and recommendations that need to be considered in order to address the gaps and challenges.

(http://www.africanchild.info/documents/Report%20(Harmonising%20Laws).pdf)

The impact of unconditional cash transfers on nutrition

The South African Child Support Grant (CSG)

By: JM Aguero, MR Carter & I Woolard
Published by: UNDP International Poverty Centre, 2007
Via: Eldis

This paper estimates the impact of South Africa’s Child Support Grant (CSG) on child nutrition as measured by child height-for-age. It finds that large dosages of CSG treatment early in life significantly boosts child height. While income transfers such as those of the CSG should help immediately to redress poverty, the question remains whether they help facilitate a longer-term pathway from poverty.

One way that they might contribute to this goal is by enhancing the durable human capital stock of the next generation. These estimated height gains observed in the case of South Africa suggest large adult earnings increases for treated children and a discounted rate of return on CSG payments of between 160-230 per cent.

(http://www.undp-povertycentre.org/pub/IPCWorkingPaper39.pdf)

Child Protection Strategy

Published by: UNICEF, 2008
Via: UNPulse

The Child Protection Strategy (E/ICEF/2008/5) defines the contribution of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to national and international efforts to fulfill children's rights to protection and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, within the context of the UNICEF medium-term strategic plan for 2006-2009 (E/ICEF/2005/11). The strategy has been developed through intensive consultation with a wide range of key partners and UNICEF staff.

(http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=E/ICEF/2008/5)

State of the World's Children 2008

Published by: UNICEF, 2008
Via: UNPulse

UNICEF has launched the 2008 State of the World's Children. The report provides an assessment of the current state of the child survival and primary health care for mothers, newborns and children and examines lessons learned in child health. In addition to the full report, the website has multimedia content, fast facts, and statistical data.

(http://www.unicef.org/sowc08/docs/sowc08.pdf)

Progress for children

A world fit for children statistical review

Published by: UNICEF, 2007
Via: UNPulse

UNICEF has launched an interactive report, Progress for children: a world fit for children statistical Review. The report reviews world progress on meeting commitments for chiledern in four priority areas:

• Promoting healthy lives,
• providing a quality education,
• combating HIV and AIDS, and
• protecting against abuse, exploitation and violence

(http://www.unicef.org/progressforchildren/2007n6/files/Progress_for_Children
_-_No._6.pdf)

Gendered dimensions of obesity in childhood and adolescence

By: Helen N Sweeting
Published in: Nutrition Journal 2008, 7:1
Via: Docuticker

This review suggests differences between males and females in exposure and vulnerability to obesogenic environments, the consequences of child and adolescent obesity, and responses to interventions for the condition. A clearer focus on gender differences is required among both researchers and policy makers within this field.

(http://www.nutritionj.com/content/7/1/1)

Ordinal proprotionality in punishment

A case against capital punishment for child rape under the eighth amendment

By: Issa Kohler-Hausmann
Via: Docuticker

This article argues that various theories of justice in punishment adhere to a principle of ordinal proportionality - relative grading of penalties in measure to the relative severity of the crimes for which they are imposed. Ordinal proportionality is a demand of both deterrence and retributive theories of justice; in addition it is a tenet well entrenched in the Supreme Court’s current Eighth Amendment jurisprudence. Under this principle the state cannot subject the crime of child rape to capital punishment because even a crime as horrendous as rape is not on par with murder in terms of harm and blameworthiness

(http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1084871)

No easy answers

Sex offender laws in the US

Published by: Human Rights Watch (HRW), 2007
Via: Docuticker

Laws aimed at people convicted of sex offenses may not protect children from sex crimes but do lead to harassment, ostracism and even violence against former offenders, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Human Rights Watch urges the reform of state and federal registration and community notification laws, and the elimination of residency restrictions, because they violate basic rights of former offenders.

The 146-page report, “No Easy Answers: Sex Offender Laws in the United States,” is the first comprehensive study of US sex offender policies, their public safety impact, and the effect they have on former offenders and their families. During two years of investigation for this report, Human Rights Watch researchers conducted over 200 interviews with victims of sexual violence and their relatives, former offenders, law enforcement and government officials, treatment providers, researchers, and child safety advocates.

(http://hrw.org/reports/2007/us0907/)

Child-friendly standards & guidelines for the recovery and integration of trafficked children

ILO Guidelines for the protection, recovery and integration of trafficked children

Published by: International Labour Organization, 2006
Via: Eldis

What different steps, procedures and services are needed for the protection, recovery and social integration of the child victims of trafficking? The standards and guidelines in this document are recommended for practical use by all practitioners, shelter managers, government officials and policy makers who are directly and indirectly involved in the process. They are also intended to influence future policies and policy reforms. Apart from suggesting what care providers must and must not do, the authors point out various responsibilities of the State. This includes, amongst other factors, that state departments responsible for child welfare should:

• ensure that care and protection are in line with the standards and guidelines presented in this paper
• provide an adequate legal framework for child protection or develop additional laws and policies to safeguard these rights
• ensure care providers have adequate funds and resources to bring these standards and guidelines into practice
• give technical assistance, such as training and information exchange, to assist care providers to meet the guidelines

In terms of monitoring and evaluation states should:

• at the national level, ensure a respected independent body has the ability and authority to conduct unannounced visits to care-giving facilities and the ability to interview children
• at the regional level, establish a task force to monitor compliance with these guidelines, consisting of government, non-government and child protection specialists

(http://www.ilo.org/public/english/region/asro/bangkok/library/download/pub06-04.pdf)

Corporate social responsibility and children's rights in South Asia

CSR initiatives focusing on children in South Asia

By: Godbole G
Published by: Save the Children, 2007
Via: Eldis

This document presents examples of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives within the context of children's issues in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. According to the study, CSR initiatives for children have a positive impact and in some cases can be more effective than Government or NGO led initiatives.

Yet, children's issues often do not get sufficient consideration in the corporate agenda. Moreover, most of the CSR initiatives that do target children often follow the welfare approach. The programmes seldom involve children as social actors and partners in their own development. Also, more needs to be done to build partnerships with the government and civil society institutions to make the initatives more effective.

The document also make suggestion for Save the Children to consider while formulating a strategy for corporate sector engagement. This suggestions might be useful also for other civil society organsiations thinking about increasing corporate sector engagement. Suggestions include:

• entering into a dialogue with some of the companies having a very progressive outlook both in its management philosophy and CSR initiatives
• influencing public-private partnership for furthering child rights in the region
• companies would always like to support good projects and may ask for good project proposals that could be supported. Save the Children should proactively develop a couple of such project proposals which could be submitted on demand
• invite the corporate sector to seminars and events on relevant issues
• arrange to disseminate literature on child rights periodically to CSR practitioners and keep tab on CSR conferences to attend and do advocacy work.
  

The appendix of the document includes a number of case studies of CSR initatives engaging children. They are CSR activities by the following companies and corporate foundations: Azim Premji Foundation, Chevron, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Forbes Marshall, ICICI Bank, IKEA , Intel , NTPC, Naandi Foundation, Satyam Computers and Wipro.

(http://sca.savethechildren.se/upload/scs/SCA/Publications/Corporate%20social%20
responsibility%20and%20childrens%20rights%20in%20South%20Asia.pdf)

Factors affecting resilience in children exposed to violence - CL ward, E Martin, C Theron and GB Distiller

Exposure to violence puts children at risk for developing a variety of problems, including depression, anxiety, and conduct problems. The extent to which children's individual, family, school, and peer group characteristics influence resilient responses to violence exposure was investigated amongst Grade 6 students living in a high-violence community in Cape Town. The majority (68.44%) reported both witnessing and being a victim of violence. Both witnessing and victimisation by violence were found to be positively associated with anxiety and depression, but only victimisation was positively found to be positively associated with anxiety and depression, but only victimisation was positively associated with conduct problems. Peer delinquency was positively associated with both depression and conduct problems. Involvement in conventional after-school activities was negatively associated with anxiety, and school support was negatively associated with both depression and conduct problems. No association was identified between parent support and any of anxiety, depression, or conduct problems. However, this latter finding may be related to measurement problems, or to participants' reports that they were most likely to be victimised in their homes (rather than at school or in the neighbourhood). While this study is limited by its cross-sectional nature, it implies that key studies for intervention are after-school activities, school support, peer delinquency, and home life.
From: South African Journal of Psychology, Vol. 37 (1), 2007, pp. 165-187

Patterns of childhood obesity prevention legislation in the United States

By: Boehmer TK, Brownson RC et al
Published in: Preventing Chronic Disease (CDC), July 2007. 4(3)
Via: Docuticker

Because of the public’s growing awareness of the childhood obesity epidemic, health policies that address obesogenic environments by encouraging healthy eating and increased physical activity are gaining more attention. However, there has been little systematic examination of state policy efforts. This study identified and described state-level childhood obesity prevention legislation introduced and adopted from 2003 through 2005 and attempted to identify regional geographic patterns of introduced legislation.

(http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2007/jul/pdf/06_0082.pdf)

Paying the price: violations of the rights of children in detention in Burundi

Abusing children's human rights: interviews with child prisoners in Burundi Published by: Human Rights Watch, 2007
Via: Eldis

There is currently no juvenile justice system in Burundi, no alternatives to incarceration for children and no services to help children once they are released from prison. This report details the failings of Burundi’s criminal system and their impacts on children. The information is based primarily on interviews with 142 children in prison, lock-ups or demobilisation centres or who had been recently released from detention, as well as a survey of all 136 children incarcerated in the Mpimba central prison.

Interviews with the children and other stakeholders indicate that children’s rights are frequently abused by the criminal justice system, both in initial arrest, sentencing and during their incarceration
(http://hrw.org/reports/2007/burundi0307/burundi0307webwcover.pdf)

Legislative history on the convention on the rights of the child

Published by: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2007
Via: UNPulse

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has launched a new publication which aims to serve as a research tool for children's rights advocates based on the major international treaty guiding their work. The two-volume Legislative History on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, lists among the many major advances ushered in by the Convention recognition, for the first time in a human rights treaty, of the differential and often discriminatory impact that national legislation, policies, attitudes and cultural traditions can have on girls.

(V1: http://www.ohchr.org/english/about/publications/docs/history_crc1.pdf
V2: http://www.ohchr.org/english/about/publications/docs/history_crc2.pdf)