Call for Papers for the Child Sensitive Social Policies Conference 2014 - Towards a Child Sensitive Society in Africa 19 21 February 2014, Harare, Zimbabwe Background: Over the past decade, there has been an increased international focus on child poverty, social inclusion, and the protection of African children. It has thus become common for governments on the continent to present strategies and action plans intended to: address child vulnerability stemming from various factors; protect the physical and emotional integrity of children from harmful practices; and create an inclusive environment for all children to develop and participate in all spheres of life. There have thus been calls for and a movement towards comprehensive, multi and inter-sectoral interventions in cooperation with a broad cross section of stakeholders. Call for papers The Women s University in Africa, in collaboration with UNICEF Zimbabwe invites all child rights stakeholders who include scholars in child sensitive social policies, researchers, law and policy makers, civil society, international agencies and service providers to the first Child Sensitive Social Policies Conference - 2014 (Cresta Lodge, Msasa, Zimbabwe). Conference objectives The Conference themed - Towards a Child Sensitive Society in Africa, seeks to explore the centrality of children in African contexts. It offers this multiplicity of child rights stakeholders an opportunity to revisit the thoughtprovoking Universalist and Cultural Relativist debates of childhood, with a view of finding common ground between the child rights principles and cultural norms still viewed at odds with each other. It provides a platform for interaction on the marginalisation of vulnerable children and the effectiveness of interventions which address child poverty and social exclusion. It creates an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with the trending factors that increase the susceptibility of children to various forms of abuse, violence, neglect and exploitation. Time has been allocated for lively interactions between delegates through round table break away sessions and other activities to discuss the translation of child rights policy into practice. 1
In keeping with the right to be heard and taken seriously, this conference provides a rare platform for the children themselves to engage directly with all stakeholders on issues that affect them. It is hoped that this conference will culminate in innovative and feasible approaches to child welfare in Africa, with measurable outputs, which may be integrated into government and private initiatives. Themes The papers will be presented in sessions based on the themes below Track 1- Reconciling Child Rights and Culture All state interventions geared towards the state protection and provision of children must be guided by the boundaries of childhood set by law and policy. Despite constitutional and legislative provisions setting the upper limits of childhood and regulating their activities; the conception of childhood and the responsibilities and roles of African children are issues that remain highly contentious. In Africa, traditional norms continue to wield power and influence over their communities, and still impose certain roles and duties on children, often at odds with the provisions of international child rights instruments. Such conflicting conceptualisations and approaches to childhood call for renewed discourse on how child rights principles may be reconciled with African traditional practices which affect children, to pave way for effective and relevant approaches to child welfare on the Continent Objectives and scope This track is intended to offer scholars, policy makers and service providers alike an opportunity to revisit the Universalist and Cultural Relativist debates on childhood and child rights, taking note of the effects of cultural essentialism on children, particularly the girl child. The track will hence focus on the following issues: The boundaries of childhood Rites of Passage Responsibilities of the child Child Participation in an African cultural context Discipline and positive parenting Understanding the child rights language in African rural traditional settings Track 2 - Social Inclusion, Poverty, Social Budgeting Children have risen to the top of government agendas at various times over the past decade, only to fall again whenever there is an economic downturn, a budget deficit, or a political instability. While there have been important achievements in public policy since the inception of the Unite Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, there has not been sustained government commitment to children or a significant improvement in the wellbeing of children and families. In fact, social exclusion is emerging as a major issue particularly in Africa where children living in disadvantaged families are excluded from 2
a number of different opportunities. Family poverty is likely to be underpinned by a range of factors from poor education and health to inadequate housing, unemployment or under-employment, which, in turn, place children at risk of social exclusion. The exclusion of children with disabilities from public policy frameworks; from definitions of healthy child development; and from community life, continues to go unchecked. Objectives and Scope This track is intended to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on the link between poverty and social exclusion with a view of coming up with strategies for addressing poverty and alleviating social exclusion. The following issues will be discussed in this track: Social Protection for the vulnerable child Equal access to education Access to health and health care services Food Security Homelessness of children Inclusion of children with disabilities Track 3 Protecting our children from violence, exploitation and abuse The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women enshrine the right of all children and women to live in a respectful, supportive family environment that is free from violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination. Children living and working on the streets, living in institutions and coming in contact with the law have been exposed to various forms of abuse and neglect with the girl child often finding herself at the receiving end of gender based violence in her own home, perpetrated by the very people who should be protecting her. The increase of internal and international migration particularly in the Southern African region has also seen children becoming victims of all forms of exploitation, neglect and abuse. With the age of technology, the unfettered access of children to the internet has further exposed children to sexual predators that abuse or co-opt them into the world of pornography and trafficking for sexual exploitation. Objectives and scope The objectives of this track are to generate on child protection measures in all spheres of life with a view of strengthening child protection systems; promoting positive social norms in all contexts including development and emergency; and to prevent and respond to violence, exploitation and abuse directed at children. The track will address issues relating to the following: Gender-based violence against children Access to contraception for sexually active children 3
The effects of migration on the children themselves Protection of children in trouble with the law and as victims of crime Electronic and media risk Intergenerational sexual relationships between adults and children Psychosocial support Break away sessions- There will be break away session themed From policy to practice intended to break the monotony of the plenary sessions and allow delegates to engage with each other in groups on issues raised in the track sessions. Particular focus will be on state performance in the following areas: alignment of national law; policy and interventions with international standards; the creation of institutional mechanisms for coordination, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of child rights policy; and in social budgeting for children. Conference Structure There will be official opening and closing addresses, plenary sessions where experts in the child rights field will address the delegates; conference paper presentations and posters presentations (selected through the abstract reviewing process); and break-away sessions. In keeping with this important child rights principle on the right of children to participate in matters that affect them, four children of diverse backgrounds and abilities will be given an opportunity to address and engage with the conference delegates in a plenary session wholly dedicated to them, to air their views on any of the areas covered in the sub - themes. There will be a total of 4 guest speakers at the opening and closing ceremonies; 4 plenary presentations; 12 Conference papers; 4 child presentations. There will also be 15 poster presentations derived from the selected submissions and a breakaway session where delegates will discuss in three groups the issues coming out of each of the track presentations. Registration and Abstract Submission Procedures The conference uses an online registration and abstract submission system. Registration and abstract submission forms and instructions for submission and payment may be found at the following link: http://www.wua.ac.zw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=235 An applicant may submit a maximum of two abstracts. If the abstract submission is successful, applicants will get an email containing confirmation and an abstract ID from the conference content committee. Abstracts The submitted abstract should consist of 800 1000 words including key words. The abstract must contain, at least the following: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Research objective(s), Literature review Methodology Findings and analysis 4
The author s brief biography should not be longer than 100 words. Posters Poster text should be of maximum 350 words, containing the research background, methodology and main findings. The authors must submit 5 photos, including captions, illustrating the content of the poster. Selected Papers for Conference Presentation The decision made by the selection committee is indisputable. Each paper must be based on sound analysis of empirical evidence/research findings and include policy recommendations. Selection criteria Completeness of the abstract: Suitability of content with the selected theme; understanding of the issues, Accuracy of the theory of the study, Completeness, Policy recommendations and Sharpness of analysis; Appropriateness of research methodology: use of reliable quantitative and/qualitative data, analytical strength/depth Contribution to the policy making process: recommendation for executive and legislative branches, possibly of having policy impact, workability of policy recommendations, applicability of evidence based advocacy and contribution to more evidence based policy Writing system: Comprehensiveness and completeness of reference Important Deadlines Early Bird Registration opens 28 October 2013 Early Bird Registration closes 10 December 2013 Regular Registration opens 11 December 2013 Regular Registration Closes 1 February 2014 (Late Registration may be done on site from 18 February 2014) Abstract Submission opens 28 October 2013 Abstract Submissions closes: 10 December 2013 Announcement of Selected abstracts: 15 December 2013 Submission of Full Papers and Power-point Documents: 15 January 2014 For more information about the conference visit: www.wua.ac.zw or contact the following Abstract submission: Dr Tendai Nhenga-Chakarisa at tchakarisa@wua.ac.zw; tendai.nhenga@gmail.com. Registrations: Ms Ruvimbo Goredema at rgoredema@wua.ac.zw; ruvigore@gmail.com Travel and accommodation: Ms Tsungai Nondo at tnondo@wua.ac.zw; rumbinondo@gmail.com 5
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