The Caribbean island of Aruba is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. UNICEF Netherlands supports the Aruban government in strengthening child protection in Aruba
What does UNICEF do?
With our integrated approach, we focus on positive parenting, prevention, early detection, and good help when things go wrong in a family. We provide technical support and collaborate with the government, networks, and organizations such as the Parenting Committee, the Child Helpline, and partners like Augeo Foundation, the National Association of Child Abuse Attention Officers, and Parenting for Lifelong Health.
Professionals in Aruba act faster and better
A significant result is the child abuse protection code: the Codigo di Proteccion. As the name suggests, this code focuses on protection and safety. The goal of this step-by-step plan is for professionals to act faster when they suspect insecurity, so that child abuse stops and the home becomes safe. For the implementation of the code, it is important that every organization working with children has a focal point (attention officer) who knows the step-by-step plan well and can help colleagues use it. UNICEF Netherlands has trained trainers in Aruba so that the training can be provided by local experts. We have also developed an online toolkit and an online magazine for professionals, thanks to the ACT4ECC project.
Parenting support programs
Every parent wants the best for their child, but parenting is not always easy. UNICEF Netherlands has helped the government, through the national Parenting Committee, to develop a vision on parenting programs and mapped out what support is available for parents. Based on that analysis, an additional offering of parenting support is being developed. Explorations are also taking place for Family Friendly Workplaces initiatives.
Also see our results from the work in Aruba and Curacao in previous years