International Bureau for

Published purpose

This project supports 250 volunteer placements, and aims to contribute to the social well-being of the poorest, most marginalized and vulnerable people, especially women and girls in the target countries with a view to contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition to increasing the participation of Canadians in international development and key global children's rights issues, this project aims to enhance the performance of 32 developing country partners in implementing more inclusive and innovative international development initiatives that advance gender equality. The project also aims to strengthen the participation of children, especially girls, through increased protection of their rights and to build the capacity of the many partner civil society organizations and state institutions so that they are better equipped to promote and enforce the rights of girls and boys by promoting their active participation. Project activities include: (1) providing training to volunteers on child rights, gender equality, as well as on the development and strengthening of partners' tools, policies and procedures to strengthen protection and rehabilitation services for particularly vulnerable children (e.g. new working tools for the integration of children's rights into police interventions with children in conflict with the law, etc.); (2) producing and/or improving practices among partners in the effective promotion of girls' and boys' rights and in advocacy for improved protection of children's rights (e. g. provide legal advice to support prevention, protection and policy advocacy that helps reduce the impacts of armed conflict on children, adolescents and young girls); (3) raising awareness and popularize child rights and gender equality for vulnerable communities (e.g., provide training to practitioners working with incarcerated youth on child rights and gender equality, and develop new work tools for them); (4) developing awareness materials and share experiences of Canadian volunteers to raise awareness among the Canadian public about girls' rights and gender equality; and (5) establishing a social laboratory for the exchange of practices and knowledge at the national, regional and international levels.