The Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) is the global level forum for coordination and collaboration on child protection in humanitarian settings. The group brings together NGOs, UN agencies, academics and other partners under the shared objective of ensuring more predictable, accountable and effective child protection responses in emergencies. - See more at: http://cpwg.net/cpwg/#sthash.wTqjET4D.dpuf In 2010 the members of the global CPWG agreed on the need for child protection standards in humanitarian settings. The Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action were developed between January 2011 and September 2012. The process of drafting the Minimum Standards involved over 400 individuals from 30 agencies in over 40 countries, including child protection practitioners, humanitarian actors from other sectors, academics and policy makers. - See more at: http://cpwg.net/minimum-standards/#sthash.01h1va2Z.dpuf

2. The Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) is the
global level forum for coordination on child protection
in humanitarian settings. The group brings together
NGOs, UN agencies, academics and others under
the shared objective of ensuring more predictable,
accountable and effective child protection responses
in emergencies. In the humanitarian system, the CPWG
constitutes an “area of responsibility” within the Global
Protection Cluster.
http://www.cpwg.net

4. Acknowledgements
ChildFund
Child Soldiers International
Columbia University
Danish Refugee Council
Geneva Call
Handicap International
ICRC
International Rescue Committee
Islamic Relief Worldwide
International Labour Organization
Keeping Children Safe
Norwegian Refugee Council
Plan International
Save the Children
SOS Children’s Villages
Terre des Hommes
UNDPKO
UNHCR
UNICEF
War Child
Women's Refugee Commission
World Vision International
Funded by:
Designed by:
Suggested citation:
http://www.cpwg.net
3

6. Foreword
Louise Aubin
Rashid Khalikov
OCHA
UNHCR
5

8. Table
of ContentS
13
14
16
17
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
27
28
29
29
30
31

9. 37
44
50
56
62
69
79
85
91
97
103
111
117
128
135
143
149
155

10. 167
173
180
186
193
198
203
208

12. INTRODUCTION

13. What is child protection
in emergencies?
13

14. The international legal basis
for child protection in emergencies
1.
2.
3.
14

15. Four key principles
set out by the CRC,
and their relevance
to humanitarian action:
15

16. How does child protection fit within
humanitarian action?
16

17. What is the purpose of these standards?
How do these standards link with the
Sphere Project and other standards?
17

18. What does each standard contain?
18

19. Who are the standards intended for?
19

20. How were the standards developed
and what are they based on?
20

21. What is meant by “minimum” standards,
and what happens if they cannot be met?
21

22. How do I use the standards in my context?
22

23. At what stage of humanitarian action
do the standards apply?
23

25. PRINCIPLES
AND APPROACHES
PRINCIPLES
AND APPROACHES

26. Principles
and approaches
The considerations in this section are key to the full
application and attainment of the standards, and
should be used and presented alongside the standards.
Principles 1- 4 are the Protection Principles in the Sphere
child protection.

27. Principle 1:
Avoid exposing people to further harm
as a result of your actions
27

28. Principle 2:
Ensure people’s access to impartial assistance
28

29. Principle 3:
Protect people from physical
and psychological harm arising
from violence and coercion
Principle 4:
Assist people to claim their rights,
access available remedies and recover
from the effects of abuse
29

30. Principle 5:
Strengthen child protection systems
30

31. Principle 6:
Strengthen children’s resilience
in humanitarian action
31

32. 32

33. STANDARDS

34. Ensure a quality response
STANDARDS TO
ENSURE A QUALITY
CHILD PROTECTION
RESPONSE

35. standards to ensure a quality
child protection response
These standards focus on key programming
components, including:
They do not aim to replace the existing policies and
The standards that follow in the next section are related

36. standard 1
STANDARD 1
COORDINATION
Standard
Key actions
37

37. 38
standard 1

38. standard 1
39

39. standard 1
MeasuremenT
40

40. standard 1
Guidance notes
1. Responsibility for coordination:
3. Provider of last resort:
41

41. standard 1
5. Sensitive issues:
7. Global-level CPWG:
42

42. standard 1
References
43

43. standard 2
STANDARD 2
Human resources
Standard
Key actions
44

44. standard 2
45

45. standard 2
MeasuremenT
Guidance notes
3. Staff capacity:
46

46. standard 2
4. Gender:
5. Disability:
47

47. standard 2
7. Capacity building:
9. Child protection policy:
10. Staff wellbeing:
48

48. standard 2
References
49

49. standard 3
STANDARD 3
Communication, advocacy and media
Standard
Key actions
50

50. standard 3
51

51. standard 3
MeasuremenT
52

52. standard 3
Guidance notes
1. Organizational guidance:
2. Building national capacity for advocacy:
4. Participation:
53

53. 54
standard 3

54. standard 3
References
55

55. standard 4
STANDARD 4
Programme cycle management
UNDERSTAND
learn
plan and implement
Standard
Key actions
56
know
analyse

56. standard 4
57

57. standard 4
MeasuremenT
7.
8.
Guidance notes
2. Coordination structure:
58

58. standard 4
5. Data disaggregation:
6. Inclusion:
59

59. standard 4
8. Life with dignity:
10. Ensuring the views of affected people, including children:
60

60. References
standard 4
61

61. standard 5
STANDARD 5
Information management
(1)
(2)
(3)
Standard
Key actions
62

62. standard 5
63

63. standard 5
MeasuremenT
Guidance notes
1. Coordination:
64

64. standard 5
3. Security precautions:
65

65. standard 5
6. Mandatory Reporting:
66

66. standard 5
67

67. standard 5
References
68

68. STANDARD 6
Child protection monitoring
standard 6
Standard
Key actions
69

69. 70
standard 6

70. MeasuremenT
standard 6
Guidance notes
1. Mapping:
71

71. standard 6
3. Coordination:
4. Training:
72

72. standard 6
73

73. 74
standard 6

74. References
standard 6
75

76. Address needs
STANDARDS TO
address child
protection needs

77. standards to address child
protection needs
areas of work and critical issues in child protection:
groups

78. STANDARD 7
Dangers and injuries
standard 7
Standard
Key actions
79

79. 80
standard 7

80. MeasuremenT
standard 7
Guidance notes
1. Physical dangers and risks:
2. Data collection:
81

81. 82
standard 7

82. 5. Schools:
standard 7
7. Survivor assistance:
83

83. standard 7
References
84

84. STANDARD 8
Physical violence
and other harmful practices
standard 8
Standard
Key actions
85

85. 86
standard 8

86. MeasuremenT
standard 8
Guidance notes
87

87. standard 8
4. Awareness:
6. Interviews:
88

88. 7. Gender:
standard 8
89

89. standard 8
References
90

90. STANDARD 9
Sexual violence
standard 9
Standard
Key actions
91

91. 92
standard 9

92. standard 9
MeasuremenT
93

93. Guidance notes
standard 9
1. Awareness:
2. Capacity building:
4. Code of conduct:
94

94. standard 9
8. Interviews:
9. Adolescents:
10. Children and adolescents with disabilities:
95

95. standard 9
References
96

96. STANDARD 10
Psychosocial distress and mental disorders
standard 10
Standard
Key actions
97

97. standard 10
MeasuremenT
98

98. Guidance notes
1. Multi-layered supports:
standard 10
intervention pyramid
Examples
99

99. standard 10
4. Early childhood:
100

100. 7. Support to caregivers:
standard 10
8. Monitoring wellbeing:
101

101. standard 10
References
102

102. STANDARD 11
Children associated with armed forces
or armed groups
standard 11
Standard
Key actions
103

103. 104
standard 11

104. MeasuremenT
standard 11
Guidance notes
1. Advocacy:
105

105. standard 11
4. Release:
106

106. standard 11
107

107. standard 11
8. Reintegration:
108

108. standard 11
109

109. standard 11
References
110

110. STANDARD 12
Child labour
standard 12
To be
eliminated
activities
not to
necessarily
be
eliminated
To be
eliminated
as a mater
of urgency
111

111. Standard
standard 12
Key actions
112

112. MeasuremenT
standard 12
Guidance notes
113

113. standard 12
2. Hazardous work:
3. Children who need targeted help:
114

114. 5. Support provided to children:
standard 12
115

115. standard 12
References
116

116. STANDARD 13
Unaccompanied and separated children
standard 13
Standard
117

117. standard 13
A. Key actions - identification, documentation,
tracing and reunification (IDTR)
118

118. standard 13
119

119. standard 13
B. Key actions - alternative care
120

120. MeasuremenT
standard 13
121

121. Guidance notes
standard 13
1. First days:
3. Coordination:
122

122. standard 13
123

123. standard 13
7. Tracing:
124

124. 10. Follow-up:
standard 13
125

125. 126
standard 13

126. References
standard 13
127

127. standard 14
STANDARD 14
Justice for children
128

128. Standard
Key actions
standard 14
129

129. MeasuremenT
standard 14
Guidance notes
1. Deprivation of liberty:
130

130. standard 14
3. Advocacy:
131

131. standard 14
References
132

132. Develop strategies
STANDARDS TO
develop adequatE
child protection
strategies

133. standards to develop
adequate child
protection strategies
Standards in this area include the main child protection
needs. As with all other standards, they are based on
include standards relating to:

134. STANDARD 15
Case management
standard 15
Standard
135

135. standard 15
Key actions
136

136. 0.
1.
4.
2.
3.
standard 15
1.
2.
3.
4.
137

137. MeasuremenT
7.
8.
standard 15
9.
Guidance notes
2. Analysing what is possible:
138

138. standard 15
4. Standard operation procedures (SOPs):
6. Staff capacity:
139

139. standard 15
7. Prioritising cases:
9. Case plans:
140

140. 10. Case conferences:
standard 15
12. Closing a case:
141

141. standard 15
References
142

142. STANDARD 16
Community-based mechanisms
standard 16
Standard
Key actions
143

143. 144
standard 16

144. MeasuremenT
Guidance notes
1. External aid:
standard 16
2. Ownership:
145

145. 5. Capacity Building:
standard 16
6. Subgroups:
7. Messages:
146

146. 9. Urban settings:
10. Funding:
standard 16
147

147. standard 16
References
148

148. STANDARD 17
Child-friendly spaces
standard 17
Standard
Key actions
149

149. 150
standard 17

150. MeasuremenT
Guidance notes
standard 17
1. Appropriateness:
151

151. 3. Age and gender sensitivity:
standard 17
4. Disability awareness:
5. Play:
6. Schools:
152

152. 7. Parents:
8. Capacity building:
9. Monitoring:
standard 17
153

153. standard 17
References
154

154. STANDARD 18
Protecting excluded children
Standard
standard 18
Key actions
155

155. 156
standard 18

156. MeasuremenT
standard 18
Guidance notes
157

157. standard 18
2. Identifying excluded children:
4. Children with disabilities (CwD):
158

158. 6. Children living and working on the streets (CLWS):
standard 18
7. Children affected by HIV:
159

159. 160
standard 18

160. References
standard 18
161

162. Standards
to mainstream
child protection
in other
humanitarian
sectors
Mainstream child protection

163. Standards to mainstream
child protection in other
humanitarian sectors
Why should child protection be mainstreamed?
Many threats to the safety and wellbeing of children can be
of humanitarian aid in all other sectors. Furthermore, all sectors
the immediate humanitarian response, all humanitarian sectors
‘Mainstreaming’ child protection, or ensuring that child
protection considerations inform all aspects of humanitarian
action, helps to maximise the child protection impacts of
exacerbated by programmes designed without proper
mainstreaming child protection is part of compliance with the
‘do no harm’ principle.
What do these standards cover?
assistance and child protection (for example, where support
to parents is likely to mean that children are safer)
as actions for other humanitarians, to ensure child protection

164. progress towards reaching the standards
children.
Who is responsible for ensuring children are protected?
States are responsible for protecting children at all times,
including in humanitarian crises. All humanitarian workers are
responsible for ensuring that their actions do not bring children
into risk in any way, and that the programmes they implement
One important aspect of this is simply ensuring that all children
as they are to adults.
safety and wellbeing of those affected, including children. For
a powerful effect in keeping children and parents together.
role in water collection, as well as their other duties and needs,
is thought through carefully from the start.
These Standards focus mainstreaming child protection in the
following sectors:

165. STANDARD 19
Economic recovery and child protection
standard 19
Standard
Key actions
167

166. 168
standard 19

167. MeasuremenT
standard 19
169

168. Guidance notes
standard 19
1. Structural barriers:
4. Cash transfers:
170

169. 5. Monitoring and evaluation:
standard 19
8. Stereotyping:
171

170. standard 19
References
172

171. STANDARD 20
Education and child protection
Standard
standard 20
Key actions
173

172. 174
standard 20

173. standard 20
175

174. MeasuremenT
standard 20
Guidance notes
1. Flexibility, relevance and quality:
176

175. 3. Equity:
4. Teachers and other education personnel:
standard 20
6. Abuse:
177

176. 7. Attacks:
standard 20
8. Messaging:
178

177. References
standard 20
179

178. STANDARD 21
Health and child protection
Standard
standard 21
Key actions
180

179. standard 21
181

180. 182
standard 21

181. MeasuremenT
Guidance notes
standard 21
183

182. 2. Medical reports:
standard 21
3. Capacity building:
5. Evacuation:
184

183. References
standard 21
185

184. STANDARD 22
Nutrition and child protection
Standard
standard 22
Key actions
186

185. standard 22
187

186. standard 22
MeasuremenT
188

187. Guidance notes
1. Capacity building:
standard 22
189

188. 3. Infant feeding:
standard 22
4. Mother groups:
190

189. 7. Social workers:
standard 22
191

190. standard 22
References
192

191. STANDARD 23
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
and child protection
Standard
Key actions
standard 23
193

192. 194
standard 23

193. MeasuremenT
Guidance notes
1. Capacity building:
2. Messaging:
standard 23
195

194. 3. Water containers:
standard 23
4. Age groups:
196

195. References
standard 23
197

196. STANDARD 24
Shelter and child protection
Standard
standard 24
Key actions
198

197. standard 24
199

198. MeasuremenT
standard 24
Guidance notes
200

199. 3. Multi-disciplinary:
4. Capacity building:
standard 24
201

200. standard 24
References
202

201. STANDARD 25
Camp management and child protection
Standard
Key actions
standard 25
203

202. 204
standard 25

203. MeasuremenT
Guidance notes
standard 25
2. Focal points:
205

204. 4. Equal access:
5. Site planning:
standard 25
6. Safety:
206

205. References
standard 25
207

206. STANDARD 26
Distribution and child protection
Standard
standard 26
Key actions
208

207. standard 26
209

208. standard 26
MeasuremenT
210

209. Guidance notes
2. Monitoring:
3. Distribution:
4. Registration points:
standard 26
211

210. 5. Separated children:
standard 26
6. Targeted assistance:
212

211. References
standard 26
213

213. Annexes
and glossary
ANNEXES AND GLOSSARY

214. ANNEXES
Relevant legal instruments
Global
Regional
Global
217

215. Regional
218

216. 219

218. GLOSSARY
A
Actors
Accountability
Age
Children
Adolescents
Alternative care
221

219. I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
222

220. C
Capacity-building
Child-friendly spaces (CFS)
Child labour
Cognitive
223

221. Coping
Crisis
D
Desk review
Dignity
Disability
Disaggregated data
224

222. Disaster
Disaster preparedness
Disaster risk reduction
Duty bearers
E
Early recovery
225

223. G
Gender
H
Hazard
Hazardous work
226

224. I
Internally displaced persons
227

225. International refugee law
L
Learners
Life skills
Livelihood
228

226. M
Mitigation
N
P
Participation
Preparedness
Prevention
229

227. Protection
Psychosocial support
Q
Quality
Qualitative and quantitative data
R
Resilience
Risk
230

228. S
Safety
Security
Sex
Stakeholder
Sustainable
231

229. V
Vulnerability
w
Wellbeing
232

230. Acronyms and abbreviations
AoR
AXO
BID
CAAC
CAAFAG
CBCPM
CBO
CCM
CFS
CLMS
CLWS
CP
CPiE
CPIMS
CPRA
CPWG
CRC
CRPD
CwD
DDR
DRR
ECD
ECOSOC
ERW
FTR
GBV
GBVIMS
IA CP IMS
IASC
IAWG
IAWG-UASC
ICCPR
ICRC
IDP
IDTR
IMTF
INEE
INGO
IOM
IRC
MARA
233

231. MBT
MHPSS
MoU
MRM
NFIs
NGO
NRCS
OCHA
OHCHR
PFA
PSS
SeeP
SOPs
SRSG
ToRs
UASC
UDHR
UN
UNAIDS
UNFPA
UNCHR
UNICEF
UNICEF CCC
UXO
WASH
WCFL
WWNK
WWWW or 4W
234

232. INDEX
221
221
221
221
235

233. 221
224
222
236

234. 223
237

235. CERF
223
238

236. 221
239

237. 223
223–24
240

238. 230
224
224
241

239. 224
225
225
225
227
225
225–226
225
242

240. 226
243

241. 226
226
226
244

242. 222
245

243. 222
246

244. 227
227
228
228
228
228
228
228–229
247

245. 248

246. 249

247. 229
229
250

248. 230
230
251

249. 230
222
252

250. 230
230
231
231
253

251. 231
221
254

252. 231
255

253. 232
256

254. 232
257

256. Standards to ensure
a quality child protection
response
Standards to aDdress
child protection
needs
Standard 15
Standards to develop
adequate child protection
strategies
Standard 18
Standard 17
Standard 16
Standard 7
Standard 12
Standard 11
Standard 10
Standard 9
Standard 8
Standard 1
Standard 2
Standard 3
Standard 4
Standard 5
Standard 6
Standard 13
Standard 14
Standards to mainstream
child protection IN OTHER
HUMANITARIAN SECTORS
Standard 19
Standard 20
Standard 21
Standard 22
Standard 23
Standard 24
Standard 25
Standard 26
The CPMS are recognised as a companion standard to The Sphere Project’s
Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response