The University of Birmingham is the first university to officially endorse and commit to action under a new Platform for Action from the UK Government’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, which seeks to promote the rights and wellbeing of children born of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).
Building on the Call to Action launched in 2021, the Platform for Action Promoting the Rights and Wellbeing of Children Born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence outlines a set of urgent priorities for addressing challenges faced by these children and offers a framework for coordinated action to do so. It provides a clear framework for partners contribute to specific actions under the Platform including global research to improve understanding of children born of CRSV, promote effective laws, policies, and practices, and advocate for children born of CRSV, focussing on the most vulnerable children.
Announced in November 2022, a range of stakeholders have committed to concrete actions under the Platform, including by the Government of the UK, the Government of Canada, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, The Children Born of War Project, and the Global Survivors Fund.
I am proud that the University of Birmingham has officially endorsed this Platform for Action. Our extensive work with children born of war has highlighted the need for more collaborative and coordinated action to protect the rights of children born of CRSV. This Platform for Action provides an excellent framework to work collaboratively across sectors and for academic work to inform an evidence-based policy.
Dr Sabine Lee, University of Birmingham
Dr Sabine Lee, Professor of Modern History at the University of Birmingham, and coordinator of CHIBOW, an international interdisciplinary and intersectoral network on children born of war, said: “I am proud that the University of Birmingham has officially endorsed this Platform for Action. Our extensive work with children born of war has highlighted the need for more collaborative and coordinated action to protect the rights of children born of CRSV. This Platform for Action provides an excellent framework to work collaboratively across sectors and for academic work to inform an evidence-based policy.
“Sexual violence is a reality for people living in conflict zones across the globe. More needs to be done to protect survivors of CRSV and the children born as a result. Partnering on this Platform for Action will provide opportunities to work more closely with governments, charities and children born of CRSV, seeking to improve the lives of vulnerable people.”
As part of the endorsement of the platform, the University has agreed to:
- Endorse the principles of the Platform for Action formally
- Commit, in collaboration with a third sector partner (FAPAD [Facilitation for Peace and Democracy], Lira, Uganda), to supporting the development of an impact acceleration plan to utilise research on CBCRSV (children born of conflict-related sexual violence) more effectively in programming and in the implementation of research outcomes
- Commit to co-piloting that plan in a field pilot in Northern Uganda
- Share the results of all CBCRSV-related research with the FCDO and with Platform network
Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Birmingham said: “The University of Birmingham is honoured to be the first university to have signed up to the Platform for Action Promoting the Rights and Wellbeing of Children Born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence.
“The University of Birmingham is one of the few higher education institutions that focus on this area of research, and this is a clear example of how academic research can contribute to the protection and promotion of the rights of some of the most vulnerable people in the world. We look forward to working with our Platform for Action partners and creating positive change.”
