Inclusion in Action
Development of Knowledge and Advocacy Products for Disability Inclusive Child Protection Programming
🧩 Partner: UNICEF India | 🗓 2024-2025 | 📍 India
Context
The agenda for child protection cannot be fully achieved unless those who are disabled and specially challenged are also included and their concerns addressed. UNICEF’s Child Protection Programme focuses on inclusive programming and advocacy and is increasingly finding ways to partner the judiciary and government counterparts at the national and state level.
As part of its engagement with the Supreme Court, a National Annual Stakeholders Consultation on ‘Protecting the Rights of Children living with Disability (focus on CiCl and CNCP) and Intersectionality of Disabilities was held on 28-29 September 2024 in the Supreme Court premises in New Delhi.
The Issue
Despite international commitments and being a priority with central and state governments, issues of inclusion, equity and access to facilities and services by children with disabilities remain. Deep-rooted structural, systemic, physical and social barriers compounded with attitudinal, policy and programme related gaps continue to restrict children and young people from optimising their fullest potential.
The Insight
A whole-of-society approach is needed to ensure a more inclusive and accessible environment for people with disabilities. By sensitising not just community members, families and children with disabilities, it is important to train policy and judiciary personnel, frontline health workers, and government departments in order to achieve 100% child protection outcomes.
The Solution
NCCDC partnered with UNICEF to gather relevant and key insights to inform the development of effective advocacy and knowledge products.
- A sensitisation and advocacy film highlighting the lived realities of children with disabilities, with voices from Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh and interviews with Judges from Supreme Court in Delhi.
- A Statement of Inclusion crafted in collaboration with children with disabilities reflecting their vision and demands for a more inclusive future.
- An Outcome Report highlighting key resolutions and recommendations emerging from the National Consultation