Safeguarding refugee children’s Best Interests
© UNHCR Niger / Harandane Dicko, April 2013
Around 60% of the refugee population in Niger is under 18. This means that most of the people placed under our protection mandate in the country are actually children. Because of their young age, they are also the most vulnerable, and often suffer from risks of forced recruitment during conflict, family separation during the flight, lack of access to education, child abuse, neglect and other violations. So far in Niger, there are some 710 children that have been identified as separated from their parents and placed under the responsibility of a caregiver. More than 3,120 children are considered at risk and benefit from UNHCR’s protection monitoring and solutions to respond to their specific needs. UNHCR aims to protect and promote the rights of all refugees including the children. To achieve this, UNHCR is supporting and strengthening the national child protection systems in Niger.
During a workshop between 17-20 December 2013 in Niamey, the Government of Niger, UNHCR, UNICEF and all key stakeholders discussed the child protection framework, and UNHCR’s Best Interest Determination (BID) guidelines and the mechanisms of conducting a “BID” in Niger. The workshop resulted in the establishment of the first BID panel for the office that will act as a safeguard for children’s best interests, in particular for the resolution of child protection individual cases.
“Good Neighbors International” and South Korean actor Choi Soo Jong join hands with UNHCR for the cause of refugee children
Today, November 6th, 2013 the director of Good Neighbors International Mr. Jaekyun Rho and UNHCR Deputy Representative Mr. Koffi Dodzi Adossi have signed an agreement to seal their cooperation for the benefit of Malian refugees living in Niger. Good Neighbors is handing $9000 in cash to contribute to UNHCR’s refugee programme in Niger, focusing on improving the nutritional status of refugee children. In addition, the Agreement also covers an in-kind donation of clothing, shoes and hygiene products of a value of $40,000. On September 25th, GNI showed its solidary towards the refugees and organized a distribution of these relief items in Mangaize refugee camp.
Founded in Korea in 1991, one of the top priorities of GNI is children’s rights and the empowerment of individuals, families, and their communities. GNI accompanied by its goodwill ambassador the South Korean actor Choi Soo Jong joined hands to help people in need in Mangaize refugee camp. Mr Choi Soo Jong participated in the wetfeeding activities in the camp and distributed necessary items such as clothes, shoes, and hygiene products to young refugees aged from 4 to 13 years old. This came just in time as children were getting ready to go back to school for the new school year. The children were excited to receive new shoes and new shirts for the first day of school. 4,350 children including 2,045 girls and 2,155 boys in the camp and others from the Nigerien hosts received items to start the school year with new hope.
The head of UNHCR’s field office in Mangaizé Mr Romain Assirangar Natoy Allah said:
It is our pleasure to receive a famous actor like Mr. Choi Soo Jong who traveled from South Korea to Mangaizé refugee camp to bring in hope and comfort to refugee children demonstrating his engagement for children’s rights. Seeing the smiles on children’s faces made all these efforts worthwhile…we can see the success of the partnership with Good Neighbors as it proved meaningful to the children, parents and everyone involved.
Opened in May 2012, Mangaizé refugee camp is located 140 km north of Niamey and hosts more than 2,350 families representing some 9,240 refugees and other persons of concern. In Mangaize, the refugee population is happy to count on Good Neighbors as a kind and mindful neighbor from overseas. Click here for more information about Mangaize refugee camp.
