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On November 20, 2009, to mark the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the United Nations General Assembly formally welcomed the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children. We, SOS Children’s Villages International and International Social Service, welcome this new international framework with much enthusiasm. It has the potential to promote children’s rights and improve the lives of millions of children, their families and communities around the world. With the aim of promoting dissemination and supporting implementation, this publication introduces the official text of the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children (General Assembly A/HRC/11/L.13) and provides questions for reflection on some of the key content areas outlined in the Guidelines. Background Key principles How to use this publication For more information please contact: Mia Dambach, Children's Rights Specialist and Alan Kikuchi-White, Geneva Representative
The Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children were borne from a recognition of significant gaps in the implementation of the UNCRC for millions of children worldwide either without, or at risk of losing, parental care. The international community has therefore come together and developed these Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children. They are the result of five years of discussions and negotiation between the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, governments led by Brazil, UNICEF, experts and academics, Representatives of non-governmental organisations and, last but not least, young people with care experience.
The Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children outline the need for relevant policy and practice with respect to two basic principles: necessity and appropriateness. At the heart of necessity we find the desire to support children to remain with, and be cared for by, their family. Removing any child from his/her family should be a measure of last resort, and before any such decision is taken, a rigorous participatory assessment is required. Concerning appropriateness, the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children define a range of suitable alternative care options. Each child in need of alternative care has specific requirements with respect to, for example, short or long-term care or keeping siblings together. The care option chosen has to be tailored to individual needs. The suitability of the placement should be regularly reviewed to assess the continued necessity of providing alternative care, and the viability of potential reunification with the family.
Included in each section of the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, you will find questions relating to national policy. While the questions are neither exhaustive, nor part of the official text, they aim at inspiring reflection on the implementation of the key principles of the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children on the national level. The Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children will only have a concrete positive impact on the lives of children, their families and communities if what is written is also done. We commit ourselves to transforming words into deeds.
International Social Service
International Reference Centre for the Rights of Children Deprived of their Family
Quai du Seujet 32
1201 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: + 41 22 906 77 04
Fax: + 41 22 906 77 01
E-mail: [email protected]
www.iss-ssi.org
SOS Children's Villages International
Liaison & Advocacy Office
Rue de Varembé 1
1202 Geneva, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0) 22 734 24 43
Fax.: +41 (0) 22 740 11 45
[email protected]
www.sos-childrensvillages.org