Why Develop a National Plan of Action
The Stockholm Agenda for Action calls on states to develop national plans of action against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC). The making of such a plan requires governmental and child-care agencies concerned with the protection of children to get together and analyse the situation for children in their country, to find out what needs to be done and to design strategies to fill the needs.
A National Plan gives everyone a tool to work with: something against which to measure results.
A National Plan enables all the stakeholders to work together towards clear goals.
A National Plan enables the care of vulnerable children to be viewed in a holistic way. For example, there is no point rescuing children from prostitution if there is no place of safety to put them. In making a plan, the planners have to think through the contents of it.
Some countries have developed plans that encompass all the rights of children. Others have developed plans that are designed to implement ILO Convention 182 against the worst forms of child labour. Others have designed plans against CSEC in particular in line with the Stockholm Agenda for Action. Each country will decide for itself how to address the care and protection of children in accordance with its priorities and current state of protection.
The best plan will be one that has involved not only state ministries and law enforcement agencies but also NGOs and care-giving associations or groups working for children. The voice of children should also be accommodated in the development of a national plan. The more that stakeholders are involved, the more they will have 'ownership' over the plan, thus making it more dynamic and able to be implemented effectively. |
