Child protection mandate and objectives

Child Protection Section is the only substantive section with a specific protection role and mandate.

  • Child protection is about protecting children’s rights enshrined in international, regional and national legislation (to life, survival and development, for example) and especially about protecting children from violence, exploitation and abuse. 
  • A child is defined as anyone under 18 years old in international and regional treaties ratified by the DRC, and also in the new DRC Constitution adopted in May 2006. 
  • MONUSCO has the largest Child Protection Section in any peacekeeping mission, and has specialized staff based in the eastern region, Province Orientale as well as in the mission’s HQ. In addition to the Kinshasa office, CPS currently has international and national staff in 8 field offices, Goma, Beni, Bukavu,Uvira. Dungu, Bunia, Kisangani and Kalemie, 
  • The Child Protection Section is the focal point for MONUSCO’s child protection work, but it is the role of everyone in the mission – military and civilian – to ensure that child protection issues are addressed in their programs. Sections/Divisions such as Human Rights, Rule of Law, CIVPOL, Military, DDR/RR, Political Affairs, Electoral and even Administration all have a key role to play. In addition each individual staff member has a responsibility to treat children appropriately