SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF BOYS IN SOUTH ASIA A ...

the high levels of stress and violence within and between families and erosion of family
safety nets, along with limitations of government and NGO coordination in addressing
children at risk and the increasing number of children placed in orphanages. 128
The document provides for universal support services, targeted services for at-risk groups,
remedial services to address the impact of abuse and the transformation of children’s
institutions, with an emphasis on promoting community-based care and protection services.
The strategy is intended to develop a national child protection system over its four-year span.
The system is to include a Child Protection Secretariat to oversee policies, standards of care
and quality of care services; a community-based Child and Family Support Services
mechanism; and community-based Day Centre programmes for at-risk children.
3.4 Programme Responses
3.4.1 Children’s participation
With UNICEF support, child rights organizations in Afghanistan have consulted children
throughout the country and developed the Children’s Manifesto for Afghanistan, with an
accompanying Framework for Action. The key issues for action include early marriage, child
trafficking, hazardous labour and vocational training for children of the street. In 2003,
UNICEF supported Save the Children Sweden-Norway to conduct children’s consultations in
11 provincial divisions of Afghanistan under a project titled ‘We are the Future of
Afghanistan’. More than 800 children discussed their concerns and identified significant
issues affecting their lives.
3.4.2 Monitoring and data collection
To address the need for monitoring abuse and trafficking cases, the National Strategy for
Children at Risk provides for the development of provincial Child Protection Action
Networks (CPANs). These networks of government and non-governmental organizations
collaborate to monitor the protection of Afghan children and facilitate the referral of abused
children to services. The activity is supported by UNICEF, Save the Children Alliance,
International Rescue Committee and other agencies. In 2007, UNICEF initiated ‘model
CPANs’ in 11 pilot provinces under the auspices of the MoLSAMD. In 2008, the MoLSAMD
requested UNICEF to expand the model to 18 provinces. Provincial CPANs provide monthly
reports on child protection violations, including child sexual abuse. These reports, to be
disaggregated by age and gender, will allow an analysis of the trends in sexual abuse and
exploitation throughout the country.
UNICEF supports child rights monitoring in the areas bordering Pakistan and Iran.
Questionnaires for children and community members collect information about many aspects
of child protection, including sexual abuse and trafficking. The monitoring started in early
2008, and data are forthcoming. In addition, UNICEF has supported ActionAid to undertake
child protection assessments at two major border crossings on the Iranian and Pakistan
128 Afghanistan Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled, 2004, ‘National strategy for children
at risk’.
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