Introduction

The Security Council has recognised that the protection of children in armed conflict is a fundamental peace and security concern, and l has entrusted a number of United Nations Peace Operations with the critical role of ensuring the protection of children in situations of armed conflict. 

Child protection staff in United Nations peace operations play a vital role in, among others, supporting legislative reforms, building the capacity of national counterparts, and engaging in dialogue with parties to conflicts.

The Specialised Training Materials (STM) for Child Protection Staff in United Nations peace operations aim to reinforce the capacity of child protection staff to ensure the effective implementation of the child protection mandate by strengthening their knowledge and practical skills and enable them to successfully fulfill their unique role in missions.

The STM provide an interactive learning component to accompany the 2023 Handbook for Child Protection Staff in United Nations Peace Operations and support the practical implementation of the 2017  DPKO-DFS-DPA Policy on Child Protection in United Nations Peace Operations. The training serves as an opportunity for child protection staff to build their knowledge and skills, better leverage resources within the mission and externally to support their child protection work, and be more strategic in planning and assessing their priorities and actions.

The primary target audience of the STM are child protection staff in United Nations peace operations, including national and international child protection advisers, officers, assistants, and UN Volunteers. It can also serve as an awareness-raising tool for other staff serving as child protection focal points.

The Specialised Training Materials for child protection staff in United Nations peace operations have been released for use in September 2023. They replace the version from 2019. The STM support the Core Pre-Deployment Training Materials (CPTM 2017) for all peacekeepers and are to be delivered in connection with the CPTM.

Specialised Training Materials for Child Protection Staff in UN Peace Operations

The Specialised Training Materials for Child Protection Staff in United Nations Peace Operations contain three 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.
• Handouts: A set of materials, including exercises and activities, used as supplementary resources for each module. They serve as a valuable tool to convey information, summarize key points, and provide trainees with a reference they can use during and after the training.

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

• Introduction to the Specialised Training Materials for Child Protection Staff in United Nations Peace Operations
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • PowerPoint presentation

• Module 1: Role of Child Protection Staff in United Nations Peace Operations
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Handouts:
    • Decision-making tree for child protection support requests
    • SCR overview

• Module 2: Monitoring and Reporting
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Handouts:
    • Checklist for quality reports
    • Checklist for interviewing children
    • Sample report

• Module 3: Advocacy
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • PowerPoint presentation

• Module 4: Engaging with Parties to Conflict
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Handouts:
    • Dos and don’ts for release and reintegration
    • Group exercise – Preparing engagement

• Module 5: Mainstreaming Child Protection
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Handouts:
    • Group exercise – Development of mainstreaming plan

• Module 6: Coordination with External Actors
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Handouts:
    • Group exercise – Actor mapping

• Module 7: Prevention
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Handouts:
    • Group exercise – Communication with local actors on prevention

• Module 8: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
  • Trainer’s Guide
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Handouts:
    • Group exercise – Needs assessment
    • Group exercise – Strategic planning

Additional resources

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
• Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers
• 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