Glossary:
Accountability
Accountability is to be held responsible for your actions, in
particular, for any wrongdoing.
Best interests of the child
The best interests of the child means that any action that affects
children must be good for them and help fulfil their hopes and
dreams for the future. When adults make decisions they should
always make sure that the decisions will be good for children.
Child
protection agencies
Child protection agencies are local and international organizations
and groups that help protect children in time of need. In Sierra
Leone, they work closely with the Ministry of Social Welfare,
Gender and Children’s Affairs and UNICEF. Together, they
form the Child Protection Network.
Child
rights violation
A child rights violation is an act that goes against the Convention
on the Rights of the Child. Child rights violations are bad for
children, and sometimes they are criminal acts. Some examples
of child rights violations are: beating a child, using a child
as a soldier in war, giving a child drugs or alcohol, making a
child work instead of going to school, taking a child away from
her or his family.
Community
Education and Investment Programme (CEIP)
The Community Education and Investment Programme in Sierra Leone
is a formal education programme for children who were with the
fighting forces, or separated from their families during the war.
Complementary
Rapid Education for Primary Schools (CREPS)
The Complementary Rapid Education for Primary Schools in Sierra
Leone is a programme to help the countless children in the society
who cannot afford formal schooling.
Convention
on the Rights of the Child
The Convention is the most universally accepted human rights instrument
in history – it has been ratified by every country in the
world except two. It lists all the rights of children. By signing
the Convention on the Rights of the Child, countries make a promise
to place children centre stage, promoting and protecting the basic
human rights of all children, everywhere, all of the time.
Definition
of a child
A child is a person who is below 18 years of age.
Family
Tracing and Reintegration (FTR)
The Family Tracing and Reintegration programme in Sierra Leone
is responsible for helping children who were with the fighting
forces and other separated children reunite with their families.
It helps trace lost families and find the parents of children
who are returning from the war.
Impunity
Impunity is a state of being unpunished for a wrong that was done,
or when somebody does something wrong and does not make amends.
In
camera
An in camera meeting or discussion is held behind closed doors,
without witnesses. In camera meetings were held by the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission with children in order to protect the
identity of children.
Interim
Care Centre (ICC)
An Interim Care Centre is an institution where children who were
with the fighting forces stay for a short while, until they are
reunited with their families and communities.
International
community
The international community groups all the people and countries
in the world under one
umbrella.
International
law
International law is made up of treaties or conventions that are
signed and ratified by countries. The treaties or conventions
are promises that countries agree to honour for the good of all
people. International law covers such areas as human rights and
trade relations. The CRC is the most important international law
for the protection of children.
Ministry
of Education, Science and Technology
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Sierra Leone
is responsible for improvement of the educational system in the
country. It has a very important responsibility because the future
of the country depends on the education of the children.
Ministry
of Health and Sanitation
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation in Sierra Leone is responsible
for health care and for the improvement of the health of the people
of Sierra Leone.
Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs
(MSWGCA) The Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s
Affairs in Sierra Leone is an important ministry for the protection
of vulnerable children in Sierra Leone. It helps prevent violations
of the rights of children throughout the country.
Ministry
of Youth and Sport
The Ministry of Youth and Sport in Sierra Leone encourages young
people to discover their talents, especially in athletics, and
to improve the social life of the country.
National
Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (NCDDR)
The National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration
in Sierra Leone is the organization responsible for the disarming
of ex-combatants. It helps former soldiers return home to their
families and communities and also helps them learn a skill so
that they can earn a living and find a place in society.
National
Commission for War-Affected Children (NaCWAC)
The National Commission for War-Affected Children in Sierra Leone
is the organization responsible for helping war-affected children.
It provides assistance, including educational help and health
care.
Optional
Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child
The two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of
the Child are additional treaties that strengthen the promises
countries made when they signed the Convention. The Optional Protocol
on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography
increases the protections for children from sexual abuse and exploitation
and also criminalises these very serious violations. The Optional
Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict outlaws
the involvement of children under age 18 in war and helps prevent
and stop the use of child soldiers.
Perpetrator
A perpetrator is a person who commits a crime or violation against
another person, for example, to kill, rape or torture a weaker
person. In order to end impunity, perpetrators shall be held accountable.
Special
Court for Sierra Leone
The Special Court for Sierra Leone was set up jointly by the Government
of Sierra Leone and the United Nations. Its purpose is to try
those who bear the greatest responsibility for the atrocities
committed during the war.
Statement
givers
Statement givers are people who tell or explain their stories
to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, giving an account
of exactly what happened to them during the war in their country.
Many children gave confidential statements.
Statement
takers
Statement takers are people who travel around the country and
listen to stories told by victims of the war about what happened
to them. They write down the stories and submit the written account
to the Commissioners for the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission.
Testimony
Testimony is the firsthand account told by a person about what
happened to that person. It may be given under oath, as evidence,
in public, or in camera. Children gave testimony only in camera.
Training
and Employment Programme (TEP)
The Training and Employment Programme in Sierra Leone is a programme
that teaches people skills earn their living and contribute to
society.
Truth
and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
A Truth and Reconciliation Commission is a group of people who
investigate violations that occurred during an armed conflict
and to learn the truth about what happened. The Commission brings
both victims and perpetrators together to tell their stories.
It creates a public record by gathering testimony and interviewing
many people, including children. Truth and Reconciliation Commissions
also make recommendations to prevent future wars from taking place.
UNAMSIL
UNAMSIL is the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone. It is a
peacekeeping mission of the United Nations that monitors the end
of the war and helps bring peace and stability to Sierra Leone.
UNAMSIL consists of soldiers, police officers and civilians. It
includes Child Protection Advisers that are specially trained
to help children and protect their rights.
UNHCR
UNHCR is the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It
is an agency of the United Nations that takes care of refugees
and internally displaced persons, either because of war or natural
disaster.
UNICEF
UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund, and created
in 1946. UNICEF is the part of the United Nations that takes care
of children, including during emergencies and war. It cares for
children and upholds their rights by providing protection, food,
clothes, medicines and education, in order to make the world a
better, safer and friendlier place for children.
Victim
A victim is a person who suffers from a particular violation,
for example, war or natural disaster.
Witness
A witness is a person who has personal knowledge of a particular
event and can explain what happened.
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