Safeguarding the Protection Rights of Children in the Eastern Caribbean

Jane Murray*, Shelly-Ann Harper, Lisa McClean-Trotman, Heather Stewart

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to Book/ReportChapterpeer-review

Abstract

As signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the Eastern Caribbean region’s island states have made policy commitments and significant social progress in protecting children from violence, abuse and exploitation. Nevertheless, many Eastern Caribbean children continue to experience violence, abuse and exploitation, which hinders their positive development and indicates that UNCRC rights enshrined in Articles 19, 34, 37 and 39 have not been achieved universally. This chapter considers how the UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area Office (UNICEF ECA) collaborates with governments, non-governmental and civil society organisations across health, education and social development sectors to address the issue of sexual abuse of children. The chapter discusses prevention and responsive protection strategies, implemented by the UNICEF ECA with its partners, including governments. The authors argue that the paramount challenges to the implementation of those strategies reside in finding strategies to promote the Eastern Caribbean states’ recognition of the multidimensional nature of the issue of child sexual abuse and their realisation of multifaceted, integrated solutions.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Routledge International Handbook of Young Children's Rights
EditorsJane Murray, Beth Blue Swadener, Kylie Smith
Place of PublicationAbingdon
PublisherRoutledge
Chapter17
Pages192-205
Number of pages14
Edition1st
ISBN (Electronic)9780367142025
ISBN (Print)9780367142018
Publication statusPublished - 11 Nov 2019

Bibliographical note

Jane Murray is Associate Professor and Co-Director at the Centre for Education and Research, University of Northampton, UK. She has published extensively on early childhood education and social inclusion, and is Editor of the International Journal of Early Years Education.

Shelly-Ann Harper is currently the early childhood development specialist in the UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area Office. In this capacity she oversees UNICEF’s early childhood development programme in collaboration with governments in 12 island states. She is a certified teacher with more that 25 yeas of experience.

Dr. Lisa McClean-Trotman is a communication for development specialist for UNICEF. She is based at the UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area Office.

Heather Stewart is a Child Protection Officer for UNICEF. She is based at the UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area Office.

Keywords

  • Young Children's Rights
  • Early Childhood
  • Young Children's Protection Rights
  • Eastern Caribbean
  • Early Childhood Development
  • Early Years
  • Protection Rights
  • Safeguarding

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Safeguarding the Protection Rights of Children in the Eastern Caribbean'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this