Children in conflict zones are extremely vulnerable and often subject to the worst forms of violations. Since 2001, the Security Council has included special provisions on child protection in the mandates of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations, including the deployment of Child Protection Advisers and dedicated child protection staff to mission areas.

To ensure that peacekeeping missions fulfil their responsibility to protect children, several Security Council resolutions and the 2017 DPKO-DFS-DPA Policy on Child Protection in United Nations Peace Operations have underlined the importance of a whole-of-mission approach to child protection in peacekeeping operations, cutting across both civilian and uniformed components, as well as the need to train all peacekeepers – including military and police officers – on children’s rights, welfare and protection prior to their deployment.

The Reinforcement Training Package on Child Protection for the United Nations Police aims to introduce child protection concepts to build skills, develop attitudes and knowledge on mission-specific situations that United Nations Police (UNPOL) will encounter. The modules are intended to promote a better understanding of the child protection mandates of missions and the role of other child protection actors in the mission and in the host country’s national child protection system. The training modules focus on the capacity-building non-executive mandate whereby UNPOL officers should have the skills and knowledge to support the host-State police in adopting child-friendly practices in line with international norms and standards.

The Reinforcement Training Package on Child Protection for the United Nations Police has been released for use by Member States in their pre-deployment training for United Nations peace operations in July 2023. It replaces the version from 2016. The training supports the Core Pre-Deployment Training Materials (CPTM 2017) for all peacekeepers and is to be delivered in connection with the CPTM.

Click here for French Language version of RTP on Child Protection for UN Police (2017 Version) 

Click here for Arabic Language version of RTP on Child Protection for UN Police (2017 Version) 

The Reinforcement Training Package on Child Protection for the United Nations Police contains two categories of documents:

• Trainer’s Guide: The Trainer’s Guide offers a complete step-by-step method to deliver the training, including notes to the instructor, speaking points, learning activities, discussion questions, assessments, and references.
• PowerPoint presentations: A series of PowerPoint presentations to accompany each training module is provided to instructors.

Click on the links below to download the Trainer's Guide and PowerPoint presentations.

• Introduction to the Reinforcement Training Package on Child Protection for the UN Police
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • Pre-training assessment
  • Pre-training assessment (answers)

• Module 1: How to promote child-friendly interactions with children
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • Learning activities
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Assessment
  • Assessment (answers)

• Module 2: How to support child-friendly prevention and diversion
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • Learning activities
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Assessment
  • Assessment (answers)

• Module 3: How to support child-sensitive apprehension, arrest and detention
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • Learning activities
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Assessment
  • Assessment (answers)

• Module 4: How to adapt justice for children to a United Nations peace operation
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • Learning activities
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Assessment
  • Assessment (answers)

• Module 5: How to collaborate on and coordinate child protection in a United Nations peace operation
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • Learning activities
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Assessment
  • Assessment (answers)

• Module 6: How to monitor and report violations of children’s rights
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • Learning activities
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Assessment
  • Assessment (answers)

• Module 7: Dos and don’ts for the United Nations Police
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Statements
  • Statements (answers)

Click on the links below to download additional resources and references:

• DPO, DFS and DPA, Policy on Child Protection in United Nations Peace Operations
• DPO and DPPA, Handbook for Child Protection Staff in United Nations Peace Operations
• UNICEF, Europe and Central Asia Regional Office, Guidelines on Child-friendly Legal Aid
• IOM and Austrian Federal Ministry of Interior Affairs, Resource Book for Law Enforcement Officers on Good Practices in Combating Child Trafficking
• UNODC, United Nations Guidelines on Justice in Matters Involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime: Child-friendly version
• UNICEF, Ethical reporting guidelines: Key principles for responsible reporting on children and young people – Guidelines for interviewing children
• Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers
• UN, Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime, ECOSOC resolution 2002/13, Annex
• UNODC, Handbook on the United Nations Crime Prevention Guidelines: Making them work  
• UN Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (Riyadh Guidelines), General Assembly resolution 45/112, Annex
• UNICEF, Toolkit on Diversion and Alternatives to Detention
• UNICEF and UNODC, Introducing the United Nations Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence Against Children in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice: A New Tool for Policymakers, Criminal Justice Officials and Practitioners
• UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty
• UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (Beijing Rules), General Assembly resolution 40/33, Annex 
• Committee on the Rights of the Child, General comment No. 24 (2019) on children’s rights in the child justice system
• UN Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (Tokyo Rules), General Assembly resolution 45/110
• UN Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty, General Assembly resolution 45/113 
• UN Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence against Children in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Annex, Strategy XII    
• Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment 
• Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, General Assembly resolution 34/169, Annex
• Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, General Assembly resolution 43/172, Annex
• UN, Guidance Note of the Secretary‐General: UN approach to justice for children

• UNODC, Roadmap on the Treatment of Children Associated with Terrorist and Violent Extremist Groups

• UN Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence against Children in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (General Assembly resolution 69/194, Annex)

• UNICEF, Guidelines on Child-Friendly Legal Aid
• OSRSG-CAAC, DPKO and UNICEF, Guidelines: Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on Grave Violations against Children in Situations of Armed Conflict
• OSRSG-CAAC, DPKO and UNICEF, Field Manual: Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) on Grave Violations against Children in Situations of Armed Conflict
• ILO, Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No. 182)
• Secretary-General’s bulletin, Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13)
• Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Convention on the Rights of the Child - Optional Conflict
• The principles and guidelines on children associated with armed forces or armed groups (Paris Principles)
• Safe Schools Declarations