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Home > Projects & Research > Child Protection International (CPI)

Child Protection International (CPI)

kate in sudan

The issue of child abduction in South Sudan became a personal pursuit for Barbara Frey’s ‘Human Rights Advocacy’ class in the fall of 2007. After learning of the abduction of their fellow classmate’s two nieces, Yar and Ajak Achiek Mading, the students actively transformed their classroom efforts into developing the Save Yar Campaign. Their research and advocacy has been addressed through several national and international avenues, including governmental agencies, media outlets and international non-governmental organizations.

Highlights of the campaign include:

  • 1,000 signatory petition
  • 2 postcard campaigns
  • Formal statements & support from US Senate and House members
  • Formal resolution adopted by numerous student groups
  • Meeting with South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir Mayardit in Washington, DC
  • Local, national and international media attention
  • Continuing advocacy

Child Protection International has grown out of the Save Yar Campaign and continues to work in accordance with its mission:

Child Protection International works to end systematic child abduction and address its root causes. Our organization is guided by international human rights standards including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and its affirmation of a child's rights to not be separated from his or her parents against their will nor deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily; to preserve his or her identity, nationality, name and family relations without unlawful interference; and to be protected from sexual and economic exploitation. In accordance with the Convention, we hold states accountable for undertaking all appropriate measures to implement children's rights and to prevent the abduction of, the sale of, or trafficking of children for any purpose or in any form. Child Protection International's advocacy for improving the security of children emphasizes:

1. Enforcement: We identify governmental bodies responsible for protecting the rights of children and their parents and we call on them to do so without delay. We identify and leverage resources to support governmental and nongovernmental initiatives to uphold those rights and protect the safety of children and their families.

2. Awareness: We independently research overlooked patterns of child abduction and disseminate findings to international and local actors to raise awareness of these situations. We seek and form partnerships with other organizations to increase reliable research on such under-examined patterns.

3. Development: Acknowledging that conflict and poverty are aggravating factors in child abduction, we advocate for development assistance for the affected communities.

 

To learn more about CPI please visit their website.