Development Policy Centre Podcast

Decades of conflict have eroded the physical and social fabric of Afghanistan, with severe impacts on the lives of children. Kerry Boland, consultant to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), talked about her experience building formal and informal mechanisms to protect children in Afghanistan. Kerry drew on her experience with UNICEF in supporting the Afghan government to set up a Child Protection Action Network (CPAN). Reflecting on her work with the Afghan government, NGOs, community and religious leaders in the provinces, she will illustrate how child protection issues are identified and dealt with in local communities. In particular, she gave her perspective on initiatives to prevent and eradicate abuse and exploitation, with special attention to ending early and forced marriage and hazardous and exploitive labour. Kerry has worked in a range of conflict-affected situations in Afghanistan, Chad, Sri Lanka, Turkey and elsewh