Freedson Consulting Group

March 30, 2020

#COVID-19 crisis means increased risk of sexual abuse and exploitation of children. I'm working with UNICEF on risk assessments for hundreds of non-profit organizations around the world. Check out UNICEF's prevention of SEA toolkit. 

I'm looking forward to facilitating the upcoming strategic planning retreat for UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict

December 02, 2019

I'm honored that the report I drafted served as the basis of this new #UN General Assembly Resolution. May it serve to improve protection for children without parental care across the globe! #FamiliesNotOrphanages #childprotection #unitednations #childrensrights #children #UNGA

Photo credit: © UNICEF/NYHQ2007-2751/Claudio Versiani

November 20, 2019

It's World Children's Day and banning #childmarriage is long overdue in Massachusetts. The MA House has the chance to take a stand for children & finally end this human rights abuse here at home. Check out my letter to the editor published earlier this year. 

November 18, 2019

I'm thrilled to be at the UN Secretariat in NYC this week facilitating a workshop that brings together UN child protection advisors from peacekeeping operations around the world. We are off to a great start! hashtag#childprotection hashtag#unitednations hashtag#peacekeeping hashtag#UN hashtag#CPAs

October 24, 2019

Tackling impunity for grave violations against children in armed conflict remains extremely difficult. It's great to see Save the Children using the tools and concepts we developed at CDI in the new report  ‘Mapping of Child Protection Accountability Mechanisms in Armed Conflict in Africa.’

January 01, 2020

Thousands of children have been separated from their families and detained by the United States after crossing the border with Mexico. Read more about the devastating impacts of child detention and other harsh realities for children without parental care worldwide in this new report I prepared for the UN Secretary-General.

Photo credit:Joel Martinez/The Monitor, via Associated Press. Printed in NYT, 8/29/19.

October 10, 2019

I'm excited about the publication of this new report I wrote for the UN Secretary-General about empowering girls in rural areas. 

July 10, 2019

On my birthday @ChildFundAll launched a new advocacy paper I wrote! Building Momentum: A Call for Action to End Violence against Children

#EndViolence #FreefromViolence #SDG #SDG16 #HLPF19

May 21, 2019

In an upcoming UN report I'm writing on children without parental care (expected fall 2019) we focus on deinstitutionalization of children. This week I was happy to meet Sesame Street's new character, Karli, a muppet in foster care. 

February 12, 2019

Today is Red Hand Day or International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers. I was happy to help The Romeo Dallaire Initiative launch its new Knowledge for Prevention (K4P) research project at Dalhousie University. This project will help improve our understanding of the trends, motivations and data related to the recruitment and use of children as soldiers through a variety of activities. The predictive modeling component and other aspects of the K4P project promise to bring huge contributions to efforts to prevent and end the use and recruitment of children.

November 29, 2018

I'm excited to be working with UNICEF on a global strategic review of the agency's efforts to protect children in emergencies, including armed conflicts and natural disasters. Today I met with child protection staff from around the globe to discuss future directions for child protection in emergencies. 

October 09, 2018

I drafted this report on behalf of UNICEF, OHCHR and other UN entities that the UN Secretary-General presented to the 73rd UN General Assembly. The report focuses on international efforts and national progress related to protecting children from discrimination and overcoming inequalities - including the right to life, survival and development and the right to participation – the right to education, migrant and displaced children and ending violence against children. It also provides recommendations on ways forward. 

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October 31, 2017

This new book by Jo Becker of Human Rights Watch is a must read for anyone interested in human rights advocacy. I'm proud that she profiles my advocacy work before the UN Security Council on protecting children affected by armed conflict in the chapter on child soldiers. 

June 23, 2017

It's been terrific to partner with Save the Children on the development of a new analytical toolkit to help practitioners bring child sensitivity into poverty alleviation programming in advance of the pilot workshop in Kathmandu. The toolkit brings practical approaches that ensures that economic strengthening programs explicitly maximize benefits to children and minimize harm to children. 

October 18, 2017

I drafted this report on behalf of UNICEF, OHCHR and other UN entities that the UN Secretary-General presented to the 72nd UN General Assembly. The report discusses progress in efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against children across the globe.  "Ending violence against children means creating a world where societies no longer tolerate nor commit violence against children and children’s rights are fully protected and realized." 

January 05, 2017

It has been thrilling to partner with the Creative Action Institute on their 2016 brainstorming and planning process. Together we strategized on advancing CAI's innovative methods for promoting long-term social change on human rights and conservation in East Africa, Guatemala, Cameroon and other contexts. 

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January 05, 2017

I drafted this report on behalf of UNICEF and other UN entities that the UN Secretary-General presented to the 71st UN General Assembly. The present report provides an overview of collaboration on child protection within the United Nations system. 

January 05, 2017

I led the process of developing this Framework over the course of several years with colleagues at Conflict Dynamics International. We gathered information through focus groups in New York, Nairobi, Geneva and other locations. We interviewed over 100 stakeholders, including children and youth, and conducted field work in Colombia, Congo, Uganda and Nepal. This Framework is a practical resource that promotes accountability for serious violations of international law committed against children in armed conflict (CAC accountability).

January 05, 2017

I worked with Conflict Dynamics International, UNOCHA, the Government of Switzerland and the ICRC to develop, field test and launch the Humanitarian Access in Armed Conflict Practitioners' Manual and Handbook on the Normative Framework. Today, Conflict Dynamics continues to train humanitarian actors in conflict zones around the world on this innovative methodology for securing and sustaining humanitarian access and promoting protection of civilians in armed conflict. 

January 05, 2017

Here is my guest blog on the International Justice Monitor discussing the unmitigated failure of national and international justice systems in holding perpetrators of grave crimes against children in D.R. Congo to account, as well as the opportunities presented by the trial of Bosco Ntaganda before the International Criminal Court (ICC).