BACKGROUND
Violence against children includes emotional and physical abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, sexual exploitation and abuse. It occurs in homes and families, schools, care and justice systems, workplaces and communities. Perpetrators include parents, family members, teachers, caretakers, law enforcement authorities and other children. Evidence is clear that violence can affect children’s physical and mental health, impair their ability to learn and socialize, and undermine their development as functional adults and good parents later in life. In the most severe cases, violence against children leads to death.
Since 2000, with the adoption of the Child Protection Act and the establishment of a child protection system at national and local level, Bulgaria has been addressing the issue of violence against children in order to prevent, reduce and respond to cases of violence. The activities undertaken by Government, civil society, academia, professionals and UNICEF include:
- Knowledge generation – most often form of violence is physical, home environment is the place where it happens most;
- Prevention programmes and services;
- Sensitivity, awareness and recognition – development of guidelines and programmes targeted at professionals, children and families on the issue of violence, its consequences, symptoms, referral mechanisms;
- Coordination and referral mechanisms – a national coordination mechanism for response to cases of violence against children; national help line;
- Specialized services for children victims of violence and abuse;
- Inspection and control system for signals of violence;
- Introduction of child-friendly hearing procedures.
Despite ongoing efforts, VAC remains to be widespread in society both as a practice and a social norm. Data collected by child protection departments reveals only part of the phenomenon as most cases of violence still remain unreported.
Another worrying fact is that a majority of parents still accept forms of corporal punishment. Recent cases of severe physical and sexual abuse and violence against children in correctional facilities revealed the inability of the child protection system to prevent and respond adequately to the needs of the children.
UNICEF’S ROLE
Protection from violence, exploitation and abuse was one of the priority work fields in the country for UNICEF in the period 2006-2009. In this period the Office worked on strengthening the capacity of the child protection system for identification of and adequate reactions in cases of violence against children by establishing a National hotline for children. Besides, a model for direct intervention at school level was developed to address bullying and other forms of violence among children. Both programmes were taken forward by the Government and continue to be implemented.
UNICEF Bulgaria is now in the third year of implementation of the Country Programme for the period 2013-2017. The overall goal of the country partnership is to strengthen the national capacity to ensure equity and social inclusion, to improve the right of children to equal access to education, health and protection and to strengthen child rights monitoring systems.
VAC, though not initially included in the CPD and CPAP, has emerged in 2013 as an area of cooperation. The discussions at the annual review meeting with partners in 2013 identified the need for UNICEF engagement in raising public awareness, strengthening the child protection system and services, and developing prevention programmes with children and parents – in response to the lack of systematic approach in addressing VAC and its causes. In 2014 UNICEF Office conducted a national public awareness campaign linked to the global initiative End Violence. The Office also engaged in introduction of investigation and judicial procedures for children victims and witnesses of crime that are appropriate for children by establishing specialized premises in 2 regions of the country, drafting protocols for their utilization and contributing to the proposals for legal amendments initiated by the Ministry of Justice.
Determinant analysis, conducted by an international consultant in 2014, serves as orientation point for the Office’s theory of change and activities in the area of VAC onward.
OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The main objective of the consultant will be to support UNICEF office in development and implementation of an integrated approach to VAC aimed to build national capacities to prevent and respond to violence against children in the country, as well as to support the office in integrating prevention and response to violence in other program areas.
SCOPE AND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The consultant will have to complete the following specific tasks:
- Draft Concept Papers and project outlines for the implementation of demonstration projects and services addressing violence against children;
- Coordinate and contribute to development of methodological guidance for child advocacy centres;
- Support the process of establishment of child advocacy centres across the country – identification of locations; identification, communication and negotiation with partners; drafting agreements, Terms of References and other project documents; monitoring and support for the functioning of the centres;
- Advise and support UNICEF Office on design and implementation of other activities aimed at prevention and response to violence against children, as well as on integration of prevention and response to violence in other relevant program areas;
- Organize provision and directly provide technical assistance to stakeholders at national and local level on VAC issues;
- Contribute to public awareness and advocacy campaigns, studies and documents developed by UNICEF Office related to VAC;
- Participate in meetings, workshops and seminars;
- Draft reports and other papers as required.
TIMEFRAME AND DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT
It is expected that the assignment will take place in the period 01 April 2015 – 01 March 2016.
Application deadline: 8th of March 2015
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