Submitted by crinadmin on
In September 2000, the Refugee
Studies Centre and the Centre for
Child-Focused Anthropological
Research of Brunel University hosted
an International Consultation on
'Children in Adversity' in Oxford.
The 110 participants were brought
together to share their knowledge,
research information and practitioner
experience to promote a better
understanding of children, their
development, their capacities and
vulnerabilities, and the risks they
face in highly detrimental settings.
The participants divided into five
working groups: refugee and
displaced children, children in armed
conflict, working children, children
and family incapacitation, and
children in deleterious institutional
settings.
The aim of the consultation was to
increase understanding of the
resilience and coping strategies of
children exposed to highly stressful
situations, as well as the risks they
face. It was proposed that
recognition of children's
competencies and resourcefulness
can encourage a move away fom a
focus on child pathology and towards
a recognition of children as social
actors with valid insights and skills.
This in itself can lead to better child
protection.
This web site takes the process of
the consultation forward. It gives
access to supporting documents for
the consultation and provides a
forum for debate and exchange to
continue. We look forward to your
comments and contributions.
Funding for the consultation was
recieved with thanks from: UK
Department for International
Development, Canadian
International Development Agency,
UNICEF, The Bernard Van Leer
Foundation, The Save the Children
Alliance, The Andrew Mellon
Foundation, The Queen Elizabeth
House Oppenheimer Fund.