Unicef Archives

UNICEF’s Vision for Elevating Parenting

UNICEF’s vision for integrated, multilevel programming moves beyond approaching parents as recipients of information or education, to a more collaborative partnership where there is a co-construction of support for the child as well as for/with the parents themselves.

Key features include:

1) moving towards strengths-based rather than “deficit-focused” approaches;

2) employing a life course lens;

3) meeting systems where they are and elevating parenting support in existing platforms;

4) explicit articulation of gender-responsive and disability-inclusive approaches;

5) focus on culturally responsive community engagement and empowerment, and promoting enabling environments to support parents and caregivers.

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Realizing the rights of Roma children and women in Eastern Europe

Summary analysis of key findings from MICS surveys in Roma settlements in the three countries.

The lack of information on Roma communities, especially children, young people and women, hinders the development of effective social inclusion policies. In response, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia are taking crucial steps to end Roma exclusion, by monitoring progress and developing policies to prevent discrimination. These bold initiatives set a valuable example for other countries to follow.

Drawing on these efforts, the UNICEF Regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe/ Commonwealth of Independent States (CEE/CIS) has produced a study on the situation of Roma children and women in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia to find out how Roma children fare in comparison to non-Roma and where positive progress has been made in social inclusion. This study fills a major gap in available research and disaggregated data on Roma children, young people and women.