CRC/C/GC/13
teachers); a social environment that fosters pro-social, non-violent and non-discriminatory
attitudes and behaviours; high levels of community social cohesion; and thriving social
networks and neighbourhood connections;
(f)
Risk factors. Proactive, tailored measures need to be taken to reduce the risk
factors to which individual children or groups of children may be exposed in general or in
particular contexts. This includes parental risk factors such as substance abuse, mental
health problems and social isolation as well as family risk factors such as poverty,
unemployment, discrimination and marginalization. At a universal level all children aged 018 years are considered vulnerable until the completion of their neural, psychological,
social and physical growth and development. Babies and young children are at higher risk
due to the immaturity of their developing brain and their complete dependency on adults.
Both girls and boys are at risk, but violence often has a gender component;
(g)
Children in potentially vulnerable situations. Groups of children which are
likely to be exposed to violence include, but are not limited to, children: not living with
their biological parents, but in various forms of alternative care; not registered at birth; in
street situations; in actual or perceived conflict with the law; with physical disabilities,
sensory disabilities, learning disabilities, psychosocial disabilities and congenital, acquired
and/or chronic illnesses or serious behavioural problems; who are indigenous 26 and from
other ethnic minorities; from minority religious or linguistic groups; who are lesbian, gay,
transgender or transsexual; at risk of harmful traditional practices; in early marriage
(especially girls, and especially but not exclusively forced marriage); in hazardous child
labour, including the worst forms; who are on the move as migrants or refugees, or who are
displaced and/or trafficked; who have already experienced violence; who experience and
witness violence in the home and in communities; in low socio-economic urban
environments, where guns, weapons, drugs and alcohol may be easily available; living in
accident- or disaster-prone areas or in toxic environments; affected by HIV/AIDS or who
are themselves HIV infected; who are malnourished; looked after by other children; who
are themselves carers and heads of households; born to parents who are themselves still
under 18; who are unwanted, born prematurely or part of a multiple birth; hospitalized with
inadequate supervision or contact with caregivers; or exposed to ICTs without adequate
safeguards, supervision or empowerment to protect themselves. Children in emergencies
are extremely vulnerable to violence when, as a consequence of social and armed conflicts,
natural disasters and other complex and chronic emergencies, social systems collapse,
children become separated from their caregivers and caregiving and safe environments are
damaged or even destroyed;
(h)
Resource allocation. Human, financial and technical resources needed across
different sectors must be allocated to the maximum extent of available resources. Robust
monitoring mechanisms must be developed and implemented to ensure accountability
regarding allocation of budgets and their efficient utilization;
(i)
Coordination mechanisms. Mechanisms must be explicitly outlined to ensure
effective coordination at central, regional and local levels, between different sectors and
with civil society, including the empirical research community. These mechanisms must be
supported by the administrative measures outlined above;
26
In some societies, in contrast to non-indigenous families, “neglect” as distinct from “abuse” is the
primary reason leading to the removal of indigenous children from their families. Non-punitive family
support services and interventions directly addressing causes (such as poverty, housing and historical
circumstances) are often more appropriate. Specific efforts are required to address discrimination in
the provision of services and the range of intervention options available to indigenous and other
minority communities.
27
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