Challenging neglect from a systemic perspective: child protection in Gaza and Jordan
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bath
Department Name: Social and Policy Sciences
Abstract
Globally, humanitarian agencies with a mandate for child protection act to prevent harm to children in settings of armed conflict and displacement. Tragically, despite their best efforts, protection work is often unequal to the threats that children and caregivers face. The consequences are conveyed through the media with depressing regularity: children become 'collateral damage' and young refugees languish in camps or urban slums with insufficient basic support.
As a sub-field of humanitarianism, child protection has focussed on the development of technical competence under the guidance of health, psychology and social work experts. This project acknowledges the immense strides taken to professionalise the field while also recognising that a technocratic approach on its own is too narrow and attends insufficiently to issues of power. The proposed project pursues a multidisciplinary inquiry into the functioning of the humanitarian system and its impact on child protection efforts. We take this system to be constituted by a range of actors: humanitarian agencies, donors and host government authorities as well as children, caregivers and communities.
A central theme of the research is neglect because globally, child neglect is the most prevalent cause of child maltreatment. Yet, neglect has only just become a focus of concern for child protection organisations in humanitarian settings, which primarily understands it as a failure of caregiving. We will relocate neglect within the humanitarian system in order to understand the consequences for children and caregivers of the workings of power within that system. From this perspective, neglect may take the form, for example, of a lack of attention to particular groups of children or the voices of young people and their caregivers regarding their protection needs. Donor priorities or local politics are two elements within the system that may contribute to the experience of neglect. We are aware that some caregivers fail to give children the care that they are capable of providing. However, we also recognise that there are structural factors that systematically undermine caregivers' ability to meet their duties of care. Thus, we focus on how the humanitarian system supports or undermines the capacity of caregivers to protect and care for their children.
The research entails three case studies in two locations. In Jordan we shall look at the situation of Syrians and Iraqis, two displaced populations with significant commonalities. Both have generally enjoyed support from humanitarian agencies to varying extent at different times. The second Jordanian study will focus on Somalis and Sudanese, distinguishable from the aforementioned groups by culture, 'race', and due to less recognition by the state and support from humanitarians. In Gaza we will explore the experience and views of original inhabitants and those who settled as refugees, attending to differences in the support these two groups receive.
Employing participatory research methods, social network analysis, family biographies and key informant interviews, we will explore norms of care, the role of humanitarian agencies in assisting caregivers to meet such expectations, and the consequences for children when norms are not realised. The core multidisciplinary research team will be joined by 36 'peer researchers' from the study communities and 9 early career social workers. Thus, the project will build capacity throughout its implementation.
The envisaged outputs and dissemination strategy target policymakers within the global child protection field, locally-based agencies, civil servants and parliamentarians in donor nations, general publics, and the research communities themselves. Our overarching goal is to expand thinking and deepen understanding of neglect and child protection in humanitarian contexts and to advance an approach that strives to uphold core humanitarian principles of universality and independence.
As a sub-field of humanitarianism, child protection has focussed on the development of technical competence under the guidance of health, psychology and social work experts. This project acknowledges the immense strides taken to professionalise the field while also recognising that a technocratic approach on its own is too narrow and attends insufficiently to issues of power. The proposed project pursues a multidisciplinary inquiry into the functioning of the humanitarian system and its impact on child protection efforts. We take this system to be constituted by a range of actors: humanitarian agencies, donors and host government authorities as well as children, caregivers and communities.
A central theme of the research is neglect because globally, child neglect is the most prevalent cause of child maltreatment. Yet, neglect has only just become a focus of concern for child protection organisations in humanitarian settings, which primarily understands it as a failure of caregiving. We will relocate neglect within the humanitarian system in order to understand the consequences for children and caregivers of the workings of power within that system. From this perspective, neglect may take the form, for example, of a lack of attention to particular groups of children or the voices of young people and their caregivers regarding their protection needs. Donor priorities or local politics are two elements within the system that may contribute to the experience of neglect. We are aware that some caregivers fail to give children the care that they are capable of providing. However, we also recognise that there are structural factors that systematically undermine caregivers' ability to meet their duties of care. Thus, we focus on how the humanitarian system supports or undermines the capacity of caregivers to protect and care for their children.
The research entails three case studies in two locations. In Jordan we shall look at the situation of Syrians and Iraqis, two displaced populations with significant commonalities. Both have generally enjoyed support from humanitarian agencies to varying extent at different times. The second Jordanian study will focus on Somalis and Sudanese, distinguishable from the aforementioned groups by culture, 'race', and due to less recognition by the state and support from humanitarians. In Gaza we will explore the experience and views of original inhabitants and those who settled as refugees, attending to differences in the support these two groups receive.
Employing participatory research methods, social network analysis, family biographies and key informant interviews, we will explore norms of care, the role of humanitarian agencies in assisting caregivers to meet such expectations, and the consequences for children when norms are not realised. The core multidisciplinary research team will be joined by 36 'peer researchers' from the study communities and 9 early career social workers. Thus, the project will build capacity throughout its implementation.
The envisaged outputs and dissemination strategy target policymakers within the global child protection field, locally-based agencies, civil servants and parliamentarians in donor nations, general publics, and the research communities themselves. Our overarching goal is to expand thinking and deepen understanding of neglect and child protection in humanitarian contexts and to advance an approach that strives to uphold core humanitarian principles of universality and independence.
Planned Impact
Who might benefit from the research?
The proposed project will primarily benefit three groups. The most immediate of these are humanitarian actors working on child protection in Jordan and Gaza as well as their colleagues around the globe and at HQ. In a field that has significantly narrowed its approach to discussions of technicalities shaped by the perspectives of social work and mental health , this project will advance a multidisciplinary perspective that alerts child protection practitioners and policy makers to the workings of power. This approach is essential if the humanitarian imperative to 'leave no-one behind' is to be realised. For UN agencies and international organisations, this perspective may be challenging; however, the critique will be strategically framed in terms of humanitarian principles of impartiality, neutrality and independence so these are challenges that speak directly to dilemmas of contemporary humanitarianism that they are already negotiating. For local organisations, our project may prove legitimating since the authority of our findings will derive from engagement on the ground with the populations that such organisations serve. We aim to highlight the realities of caregiving that they witness on a daily basis.
The second group to benefit is the academic community (see the statement 'Academic beneficiaries'). This project aims to enrich the approach of social work scholars by demonstrating the importance of a critical, systemic perspective. We also aim to encourage scholars from disciplines with limited engagement in the field of child protection - notably political science, international relations, political-economy, anthropology and sociology - to recognise both the exciting potential that this field offers as well as the immense contribution that they could make to it.
Ultimately, the most important group that our project seeks to benefit is children living in situations of protracted conflict and/or displacement whose safety and wellbeing are at serious risk. We have chosen to work in two contexts where the protection of all children is fraught with difficulty and, in the case of Gaza, often seems impossible. Whatever the specificities of these locations, we believe that the findings will stimulate debate, both in the study communities and in places where the workings of power may be less clearly visible and potential harms to children are different in kind, if not in scale.
How might they benefit from the research?
The benefit for children living in situations of displacement and / or conflict will come as a result of changes in the approach to child protection taken by the humanitarian system globally and locally. This project will advocate for these changes with policy-makers, governments and donors. Citizens must also press for such changes, but they first need a deeper understanding of the field of child protection and the challenges it faces in upholding humanitarian principles. For this reason, we propose a range of outputs to engage diverse audiences (see 'outputs' and 'pathways to impact').
In Jordan and Gaza, we seek to immediately benefit the communities where we work by: (a) building the capacity of social workers and child protection fieldworkers in both research and analysis of the system in which they work; (b) building the leadership skills and confidence of community 'peer researchers' (adults and children); (c) enabling affected communities to gain greater awareness of the humanitarian system and the means to leverage support; and (d) identifying initiatives that have the potential to better support caregivers living in contexts of forced displacement and conflict. Our collaboration with local practitioner organisations engaged in frontline humanitarian work (i.e. CRP, Sawiyan, Tamer Institute) also creates an opportunity to enhance networks and build capacity, which will directly benefit the vulnerable communities that they serve.
The proposed project will primarily benefit three groups. The most immediate of these are humanitarian actors working on child protection in Jordan and Gaza as well as their colleagues around the globe and at HQ. In a field that has significantly narrowed its approach to discussions of technicalities shaped by the perspectives of social work and mental health , this project will advance a multidisciplinary perspective that alerts child protection practitioners and policy makers to the workings of power. This approach is essential if the humanitarian imperative to 'leave no-one behind' is to be realised. For UN agencies and international organisations, this perspective may be challenging; however, the critique will be strategically framed in terms of humanitarian principles of impartiality, neutrality and independence so these are challenges that speak directly to dilemmas of contemporary humanitarianism that they are already negotiating. For local organisations, our project may prove legitimating since the authority of our findings will derive from engagement on the ground with the populations that such organisations serve. We aim to highlight the realities of caregiving that they witness on a daily basis.
The second group to benefit is the academic community (see the statement 'Academic beneficiaries'). This project aims to enrich the approach of social work scholars by demonstrating the importance of a critical, systemic perspective. We also aim to encourage scholars from disciplines with limited engagement in the field of child protection - notably political science, international relations, political-economy, anthropology and sociology - to recognise both the exciting potential that this field offers as well as the immense contribution that they could make to it.
Ultimately, the most important group that our project seeks to benefit is children living in situations of protracted conflict and/or displacement whose safety and wellbeing are at serious risk. We have chosen to work in two contexts where the protection of all children is fraught with difficulty and, in the case of Gaza, often seems impossible. Whatever the specificities of these locations, we believe that the findings will stimulate debate, both in the study communities and in places where the workings of power may be less clearly visible and potential harms to children are different in kind, if not in scale.
How might they benefit from the research?
The benefit for children living in situations of displacement and / or conflict will come as a result of changes in the approach to child protection taken by the humanitarian system globally and locally. This project will advocate for these changes with policy-makers, governments and donors. Citizens must also press for such changes, but they first need a deeper understanding of the field of child protection and the challenges it faces in upholding humanitarian principles. For this reason, we propose a range of outputs to engage diverse audiences (see 'outputs' and 'pathways to impact').
In Jordan and Gaza, we seek to immediately benefit the communities where we work by: (a) building the capacity of social workers and child protection fieldworkers in both research and analysis of the system in which they work; (b) building the leadership skills and confidence of community 'peer researchers' (adults and children); (c) enabling affected communities to gain greater awareness of the humanitarian system and the means to leverage support; and (d) identifying initiatives that have the potential to better support caregivers living in contexts of forced displacement and conflict. Our collaboration with local practitioner organisations engaged in frontline humanitarian work (i.e. CRP, Sawiyan, Tamer Institute) also creates an opportunity to enhance networks and build capacity, which will directly benefit the vulnerable communities that they serve.
Organisations
Publications
Hart J
(2023)
The Child as Vulnerable Victim: Humanitarianism Constructs Its Object.
in International journal of environmental research and public health
Hart, J.
(2023)
The Child as Vulnerable Victim: Humanitarianism Constructs its Object
in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
| Description | This research project examined local understandings of child protection with particular focus on neglect. The research team sought to learn how caregivers and children perceived the threats to children's safety and wellbeing, and the steps that they took to prevent harm in the form of neglect. We also looked into the relationship between individuals, the state and the humanitarian system, including national and international organisations and UN agencies. The research considered the role played by the main actors in this system as they worked to protect refugee communities, and it examined both deficiencies and ways to enhance protection efforts in these settings. In order to achieve these aims of the research, the team collaborated with four organizations working at the community level - three in Jordan and one in the Gaza Strip in Palestine - at all stages of the project. This included the design of the activities, training, data collection and analysis, dissemination of findings, and drafting of the recommendations. The partner organisations were Sawiyan, Seenaryo and the Collateral Repair Project (CRP), German-Jordanian University in Jordan and Tamer Institute for Community Education in the Gaza Strip, and Proteknon Associates based in North America. The project embraced four communities in Jordan - Somali, Sudanese, Iraqi, and Syrian, as well as Palestinian refugees in Gaza. The research was undertaken in collaboration with a total of 38 researchers from these communities. Working in pairs they conducted 170 interviews (140 in Jordan and 30 in Gaza) with caregivers and children. One third of the people interviewed were teenage children under the age of 18. The partner organisations also implemented participatory activities with groups of children and caregivers. Seenaryo organised theatre activities with over 30 children from the Sudanese and Somali communities. Tamer Institute worked with 60 boys and girls to explore understandings of protection through creative writing and arts. Across the communities, caregivers understood the protection of children as meeting their basic needs, preventing harm, ensuring access to education and healthcare, and safeguarding their possibility for a decent life in the long-term. By contrast, child protection efforts undertaken by international organisations and UN agencies tend to focus on a pre-defined list of issues, such as child labour and child marriage, begging and domestic and gender-based violence. With the exception of child marriage, all of these issues emerged in our work. However, they were discussed by caregivers more as symptoms of deeper causes, including poverty, social marginalisation, and discrimination, rather than issues in themselves that could be tackled in isolation. In Jordan, most refugees are denied access to employment in the formal labour market and the stipends received from humanitarian organisations do not cover the costs of meeting children's basic needs. In Gaza caregivers reported on their struggle to provide for children's basic needs given the widespread and long-term unemployment and poverty in the Gaza Strip - a situation exacerbated by the Israeli blockade. Understanding the economic situation, the risks to children that it creates, and the constraints it imposes upon caregivers emerged as knowledge that should be fundamental to the child protection efforts of humanitarian organisations and host governments. Direct harm in school and public spaces was an issue for children from all of the communities studied in Jordan. This took different forms: bullying, verbal abuse, physical attack and exploitation. Not all communities experienced all of these forms of violence to the same extent. For example, Somali and Sudanese children were far more likely to be subjected to verbal abuse and physical attack in school and public space, and such violence was far more severe and damaging than that generally experienced by children from other communities. This is evidently due to racist and discriminatory attitudes towards people with darker skin. In several cases it had led caregivers to take their children out of school for their own protection. In Gaza, several interviewees spoke of their experience of domestic violence, ascribing this to stress, depression, poverty and uncertainty of life under occupation. Such violence itself was a problem that caregivers might develop strategies to overcome. However, the largest source of harm to children - periodic military attack on civilians and civilian infrastructure by Israeli forces - was seen by all as beyond their power to prevent. There was common acknowledgement that the most caregivers could hope to achieve was to reduce children's fear. Protection of children's bodies was simply beyond them. In Jordan access to education and health services was also an important protection concern. Many talked about the struggles they faced trying to access healthcare in a timely manner, securing a place at school and covering the associated costs of transportation, uniforms, books, snacks and, in some cases, admission fees. In Gaza, UNRWA delivered schooling to all refugee children up until ninth grade in its schools and offered primary health care through its clinics. However, further education and more specialised or advanced healthcare was hard to access. Far from being passive in the face of severe conditions and constraints, caregivers seek through various way to protect and care for their children. Strategies include reaching out to neighbours, relatives, and friends (especially those of the same nationality), taking on debt, and safeguarding their children through, for example, maintaining a regular presence in the school environment or, if all else fails, taking their children out of school altogether. In some cases, caregivers reported keeping their children at home as much as possible in order to avoid violence and abuse in the street. The issues raised by participants in Jordan and Palestine highlight the structural obstacles that prevent caregivers from protecting their children. However, national, international organisations and UN agencies often attribute blame to caregivers for children's exposure to harm. In particular, neglect is often attributed to a failure of caregiving. By contrast, research participants spoke consistently about the constraints upon caregivers' capacity to protect. If children experienced neglect it was necessary to link their situation to the way that the humanitarian system - including donors, host governments and humanitarian agencies - supported or failed to support caregivers to meet their responsibilities for care and protection. With cuts in aid, the exclusion of certain populations from support, denial of legal employment , lack of access to basic services, discriminatory treatment within state-run institutions, including schools, caregivers are being handicapped in numerous ways. Therefore, while recognising that some caregivers lack the motivation to protect children in their care, this project calls attention to the role of humanitarian agencies and other relevant actors in what may be called 'the production of neglect'. |
| Exploitation Route | 1. We are preparing an article that discusses the methodology and training involved. This may be useful for others seeking to work with refugees as 'peer researchers'. 2. Engagement with UNRWA around the translation of research findings into their own policies and practices is ongoing. A two-day workshop was held in November 2022 and further exchange is planned in April / May 2023 3. The project builds upon an initiative started by the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (a UNICEF-led global association) seeking to bring closer attention to the issue of child neglect within INGOs and UN agencies working in humanitarian settings. A presentation was made to the annual meeting of this Alliance in June 2022. 4. We were able to input into UNICEF's report (on the situation of children in Jordan) to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in parallel to the report submitted by the Government of Jordan. Our text highlighting the particular plight of non-Syrian refugee children in Jordan and the discrimination that they face will, hopefully, become an issue that is addressed in subsequent exchange between the Committee and the Jordanian government. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Description | Dissemination of key findings to bilateral donors in Jordan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | A presentation to major bilateral donors in Jordan about findings of research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | In-house presentation to UNHCR child protection team |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In-house presentation to discuss key findings and implications for policy and practice. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | In-house presentation to UNICEF Child Protection team |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A round table at UNICEF offices to share key findings of research and discuss their implication for UNICEF practice and policy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentation to the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action annual meeting. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of key findings from the research with particular focus on the need to develop policy and practice around the prevention of neglect of refugee children in humanitarian action. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Two-day workshop with UNRWA staff from all five of its fields of operation. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | UNRWA requested a two-day workshop facilitated by members of our team (Professor Jason Hart and Ms Christina Torsein) to discuss findings of the research and consider how to translate those findings into policy / practice. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |