Since 2015, Morocco has embarked on a vast process of developing a territorialised and integrated child protection policy. In each province of the Kingdom, the objective is to implement a real protection policy that integrates each of the actors, at national and local levels. The national programme for the implementation of the integrated child protection policy in Morocco (2015-2020) is set under the sub-objective 24, entitled: "Setting up a monitoring and evaluation system which enables the assessment of the protection system and its results", a specific measure (n ° 105):"Development and updating of a set of child protection indicators based on existing indicators". These indicators will be the basis for evaluating the effectiveness of child protection practices in each region and within each institution, as well as upon which any partnership operation can be developed. Morocco thus wishes to have robust indicators of the quality of child protection support, that is to say which are accepted, understandable, reliable, common, shared, sustainable, tested and consolidated.

To be accepted, an indicator must have been explained to the people and institutions that must use it, or even to a wider audience. To be understandable, it must be accompanied by an explanatory note, accessible to anyone who must use it (produce or interpret). To be reliable, it is necessary to precisely indicate what the indicator means: what does it indicate (information)? to whom / what does this information carry (scope of observation)? How this information is obtained (construction method)? To be common, it must be used by everyone in exactly the same way, as a basis for "spatial" and "temporal" comparison. To be shared, it must be used by anyone who works in the concerned field. To be sustainable, the same indicator, even if sometimes imperfectly (if we know its limits) must be used over a fairly long period of time, in order to establish temporal comparisons. It must also be tested, both in its construction and in its use (whether to give or receive information), by the standard actors who will then use it. To be consolidated, an indicator must itself be evaluated to test the elements mentioned above. Finally, within the framework of our subject, the indicator must also be easily interpretable by anyone interested in the subject who reads the explanatory note.

The more heterogeneous the statistical population observed (person, events, practice, etc.), the more complex the development of the indicator. Developing an indicator is therefore a long process based on a defined method.

Therefore, Morocco has decided to take advantage of international research already carried out and organising a scientific symposium. At the end of this conference, the objective is to determine child protection quality indicators (understood as the protection of children living or having experienced an identified danger), whether, depending on national contexts, in prevention, in an open environment, in placement, including placement with a relative, in kafala or in adoption. Some of these indicators will also relate to people in the family environment or close relatives who take care of the child, whatever their status.

The unit of observation analysed by the indicator is an individual, more exactly a child in need of protection, or possibly a group of individuals, when it deals with collaborative indicators for the development of child protection services or the evaluation of these services. The Minors concerned are those who are accompanied by a child protection system, including preventive actions: minor victims of mistreatment (sexual violence, physical violence, psychological violence, neglect, exposure to domestic violence), minor perpetrators but also considered as victims, minors temporarily or permanently abandoned, minors not benefiting from fundamental rights, “protected” minors becoming adults and “autonomous”, especially during the first years of majority…

In an ecosystem approach that considers all the factors of the child's life context, the measurement or indication of the quality of support covers all aspects that contribute to the child's development and respect of his/her rights and his/her dignity: health, education, housing, clothing and leisure, but also respect of rights and access to rights, respect of dignity, knowledge of his/her history and access to his/her file, citizenship and participation in the implementation of the protection system, participation in city life, care, moral education, quality of support, security including within an establishment, maintenance and development of relationships with family and loved ones…

Particular attention can be paid to taking into account the life-course prior to care, in particular to situations of mistreatment which led to protection. Likewise, the indicator may relate to situations of children in danger but who have not subsequently been protected, for whatever reason, or children who benefit from various services or support for the prevention of danger. In addition, research can focus on children or young adults who are no longer protected today but who have - or should have - at one time or another during their history, benefited from protection. As they are rare, the indicators which make it possible to consider the entire life-course of the child, including before or after support within a protective device will therefore be appreciated.

Whatever the "field" of research, in Morocco or in other countries, the research work must first of all precisely describe the field of observation (territory and type of structure or establishment), the theoretical references (children's development, fundamental rights, basic needs, etc.) and the objectives sought; then present the indicators, analysing how they meet the above characteristics (understandable, known, reliable, common, shared, sustainable, tested, consolidated) and present their limits.

During the conference, this academic knowledge will be compared with experiential knowledge, from professionals as well as beneficiaries, according to methods which will be determined soon.

Logistical and technical information

Location: As part of a partnership with the National (Moroccan) Institute for Social Action (INAS), the conference will take place in Tangier (Morocco), on 2-3 November 2020. IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO COMMUNICATE BY VISIO IF THE SPEAKER DOES NOT WISH TO MOVE.

Simultaneous translation: speeches can be held in Arabic, French and English. The translation will be carried out simultaneously.

The scientific council, responsible for validating the call for papers, making the selection of papers and preparing the conference programme is composed of:

-          Pr. Gilles Séraphin, coordonnateur du colloque (Université Paris Nanterre – France),

-          Pr. Hind Ayoubi Idrissi (Université de Rabat - Maroc),

-          Dr. Agnès Gindt-Ducros (Observatoire national [français] de la protection de l’enfance –ONPE – France),

-          Pr. Hans Grietens (Université de Louvain - Belgique),

-          Dr. Katarzyna Halasa (Conseil Santé – Projet « Appui à la protection de l’enfance »),

-          Pr. Touria Houssam (Institut national de l’action sociale - Maroc),

-          Dr. Hélène Join-Lambert (Université de Paris Nanterre - France),

-          Pr Andreas Jud (Université d’Ulm et Haute école spécialisée de Lucerne – Allemagne et Suisse),

-          Pr. Abdelouadoud Kharbouche (Université de Marrakech - Maroc),

-          Pr. Carl Lacharité (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières - Canada).

Submission of a paper: Any researcher interested in the problem of endangered children and the protection of children can propose a paper. This proposal must include author(s) (discipline, status, institution), title, summary (in 2500 characters, spaces included), problematic exponent, method, theoretical references, bibliography and should be sent to: colloquetanger2020@gmail.com before July 10, 2020. A response will be provided before September 10, 2020.

Participation in the conference is by simple registration, free of charge. The subscriber's accommodation costs (accommodation and lunch) will be borne by the organisers. Transport is the responsibility of the speaker.

Presentation of posters: Any researcher interested in the problem of children at risk and the protection of children can propose a poster. This proposal must include authors (discipline, status, institution), title, summary (in 2,500 characters, spaces included) explaining the problem, method, theoretical references, bibliography and should be sent to: colloquetanger2020@gmail.com before June 15, 2020. A response will be provided before September 10, 2020.

A selection of papers will result in a scientific publication, under the supervision of the scientific director of the conference, Professor Gilles Séraphin.

Contact: colloquetanger2020@gmail.com