1. Key issues 2. Child rights in governance assessments2. Child rights in governance assessments 3. Strategies3. Strategies 4. Regional examples4. Regional examples

 Definition of “governance”  The exercise of economic, political and administrative authority to manage a country’s affairs at all levels  Governance reforms will not deliver sustainable results if they are not mindful of children  Normative imperative  Instrumental argument  Empirical evidence

 Promoting good governance is an integral part of development programming for many development partners  Several adopted new strategies in the past few years  Rationale:  Governance is at the heart of promoting human rights, democracy and RoL  Required for sustainable development  Critical for aid effectiveness

1. Child rights-sensitive governance assessment:  Offers a strategic opportunity to feature child rights concerns prominently and concretely in governance- related interventions and funding support. 2. Identify stakeholders:  Key actors that are instrumental in helping governments meet their goals under the CRC. 3. Identify entry points:  Requires a comprehensive set of entry interlocking interventions

 All development partners engage in governance assessments  Challenges:  “Governance” - an umbrella concept  Challenge agreeing on operational indicators and establishing clear causal links  Plethora of governance assessment tools currently used

1. Political Governance/Voice and Accountability 2. Rule of Law/Legal and Judicial Systems 3. Control of Corruption 4. Government Effectiveness 5. Social Governance/Socio-economic indicators 6. Political Dialogue/Quality of Partnerships, including Participation and Civil Society and Governance

 Is there in existence a specialized juvenile justice system?  Is there a system in place guaranteeing regular independent inspection of places of detention of children?  Has an independent oversight institution been established to examine how legal institutions and practices affect children’s rights? Do they have sufficient budget and authority?, etc… In addition, the following quantitative indicators should also be monitored as a way of determining the performance of the judicial system and the treatment accorded within it to children in conflict with the law: In addition, the following quantitative indicators should also be monitored as a way of determining the performance of the judicial system and the treatment accorded within it to children in conflict with the law:  Number of children arrested during a 12 month period per 100,000 child population  Number of children in detention per 100,000 child population  Time spent in detention by children prior to sentencing  Number of child deaths in detention during a 12 month period, per 1,000 detained  Percentage of children in detention not wholly separated from adults, etc…

 Strategic opportunity to feature child rights concerns more prominently  Support political dialogue between donors and partner countries  Inform Human Rights Country Strategies  Support governance projects  Inform the eligibility criteria for budget support (GGDC)

In the field of INSTITUTION BUILDING In the field of INSTITUTION BUILDING In the field of SERVICE DELIVERY In the field of SERVICE DELIVERY In the field of RULE OF LAW/PARLIAMENTS In the field of RULE OF LAW/PARLIAMENTS In the field of ANTI-CORRUPTION In the field of ANTI-CORRUPTION

1. Establishing structures and institutions in government that give priority attention to children:  National coordination body  Clear mechanisms for sectoral and vertical coordination 2. Strengthening capacities of government structures  Functional  Technical capacities 3. Institutionalizing children’s engagement in policy-making through: Information sharing and CB Establishing standards, structures, procedures and mechanisms Allocating resources (time, money, people) Mobilizing children and young people 4. Institutionalizing accountability mechanisms for children (child rights ombudspersons, national plans of action)

 Principles and standards: Services are CHILD-CENTERED; Services are all INCLUSIVE (including access, affordability, cultural and diversity appropriateness and acceptability); Services have built-in mechanisms for CHILD PARTICIPATION; Services have built-in mechanisms for ACCOUNTABILITY. Strategies: Strategies: 1. Supporting systems for birth registration. 2. Promoting national data collection systems.

1. Supporting legislative reform for child rights 2. Support to Parliaments 3. Justice for children: Strengthening the system of justice for children; Strengthening the capacity of those in contact with children in conflict with the law; Legal empowerment and access to justice.

1. Engaging children and youth in anti-corruption initiatives:  Citizen’s score cards  Taking part in public expenditure tracking  Youth anti-corruption leagues 2. Improving the flow of information on key services to children and parents.

Regional examples