CHILDREN ON CHILDREN ON THE MOVETHE MOVE

MAKING MAKING MIGRATION MIGRATION

LESS UNSAFE LESS UNSAFE FOR CHILDRENFOR CHILDREN

Mike DottridgeMike DottridgeConsultantConsultant

November 2010November 2010

PRESENTION INCLUDES:PRESENTION INCLUDES:

•Part 1 reviews which children Part 1 reviews which children we are talking aboutwe are talking about

•Part 2 looks at Part 2 looks at programming programming for children on the movefor children on the move

•Part 3 looks at challenges and Part 3 looks at challenges and enigmasenigmas

•& Part 4 looks at the & Part 4 looks at the actionsactions neededneeded

PART 1PART 1WHICH CHILDREN ARE WHICH CHILDREN ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?WE TALKING ABOUT?

WHO ARE THESE CHILDREN?WHO ARE THESE CHILDREN?• Kids who leave home to earn a living Kids who leave home to earn a living

or who run away from home or who run away from home • Young people sent away by their Young people sent away by their

parents parents • Refugees and IDPs Refugees and IDPs • i.e., children who leave home for i.e., children who leave home for

quite different reasonsquite different reasons• Travelling within own country or Travelling within own country or

abroad abroad • Some accompanied, some Some accompanied, some

unaccompanied or separated unaccompanied or separated

A HETEROGENEOUS GROUP A HETEROGENEOUS GROUP THAT SHARES SOME THAT SHARES SOME CARACTERISTICS CARACTERISTICS •Seen as ‘outsiders’ or ‘foreigners’Seen as ‘outsiders’ or ‘foreigners’•So not entitled to the same rights So not entitled to the same rights

or services as local childrenor services as local children •PerceivedPerceived to be more to be more

‘exploitable’ than other children ‘exploitable’ than other children (i.e., less risk of anyone standing (i.e., less risk of anyone standing up for them)up for them)

•Generally they have difficulty Generally they have difficulty getting access to services getting access to services available for ‘local’ children available for ‘local’ children (education, health, protection by (education, health, protection by the police, etc.)the police, etc.)

AT PRESENT LABELLED AS:AT PRESENT LABELLED AS:• Street childrenStreet children• Trafficked children Trafficked children • Separated and Unaccompanied Separated and Unaccompanied

children (UAMs), , Children children (UAMs), , Children without parental carewithout parental care

• Some working children, e.g. Some working children, e.g. live-in child domestics or live-in child domestics or others working away from others working away from homehome

WHY CONSIDER WHY CONSIDER ALLALL SEPARATED SEPARATED CHILDREN AS ONE GROUP – OR CHILDREN AS ONE GROUP – OR ALL CHILDREN WHO ARE ON THE ALL CHILDREN WHO ARE ON THE MOVE ?MOVE ?•Common characteristicsCommon characteristics•NOT covered (adequately) by local NOT covered (adequately) by local

protection systemsprotection systems•So many children migrate in So many children migrate in

search of a better futuresearch of a better future•Shortcomings of focusing on Shortcomings of focusing on

specific groups, e.g. (recently) specific groups, e.g. (recently) ‘child trafficking’‘child trafficking’

11stst WORKING WORKING HYOPTHESISHYOPTHESISChildren who are without Children who are without

parental care are generally less parental care are generally less well protected (and more well protected (and more vulnerable to abuse), vulnerable to abuse), particularly those who have particularly those who have moved away from the protective moved away from the protective environment of a community environment of a community where they are known to otherswhere they are known to others

DEFINITION OFFERED OF DEFINITION OFFERED OF ‘CHILDREN ON THE MOVE’ IN ‘CHILDREN ON THE MOVE’ IN BARCELONABARCELONA””Those Those children moving for a children moving for a

variety of reasons, voluntarily variety of reasons, voluntarily or involuntarily, with or or involuntarily, with or between countries, with or between countries, with or without their parents or other without their parents or other primary caregivers, and whose primary caregivers, and whose movement might place them at movement might place them at risk (or at an increased risk) of risk (or at an increased risk) of economic or sexual exploitation, economic or sexual exploitation, abuse, neglect and violence”.abuse, neglect and violence”.

SEPARATED AND SEPARATED AND UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN ON UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN ON THE MOVE END UP IN ALL THE MOVE END UP IN ALL SORTS OF SITUATIONSSORTS OF SITUATIONS• Some are trafficked for sexual purposesSome are trafficked for sexual purposes

• Some resort to commercial sex as a Some resort to commercial sex as a survival tacticsurvival tactic

• Many work full-time before the age of Many work full-time before the age of 1414

• Many escape from difficulties at home Many escape from difficulties at home (e.g. domestic violence, early marriage)(e.g. domestic violence, early marriage)

• Many think they are better off than Many think they are better off than beforebefore

SO IT’S NOT ALWAYS SO IT’S NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS WHO HAS BEEN OBVIOUS WHO HAS BEEN

TRAFFICKED OR TRAFFICKED OR EXPLOITED!EXPLOITED!

Boys returning to Mali after working in neighbouringCôte d’Ivoire

Photo credit: Terre des Hommes

AND…AND…

•It would be incorrect to It would be incorrect to assume that it is assume that it is notnot in the in the best interests of some best interests of some children to leave home and children to leave home and migrate, whether aged 17, migrate, whether aged 17, 15, 13 or even younger15, 13 or even younger

PART 2PART 2PROGRAMMING FOR PROGRAMMING FOR

CHILDREN ON THE MOVECHILDREN ON THE MOVE

2nd HYPOTHESIS - 2nd HYPOTHESIS - WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR

PROGRAMMINGPROGRAMMINGRather than generating Rather than generating

programmes with conventional programmes with conventional objectives and strategies – to stop objectives and strategies – to stop a specific form of abuse such as a specific form of abuse such as child trafficking – we should child trafficking – we should analyse the protection available to analyse the protection available to children on the move, along with children on the move, along with sources of harm/abuse, and adjust sources of harm/abuse, and adjust our programmes to meet the our programmes to meet the needsneeds

THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PROGRAMMING ARE:PROGRAMMING ARE:

• We look at protection techniques as We look at protection techniques as a means of prevention (of the range a means of prevention (of the range of abuse reported to be occurring), of abuse reported to be occurring), rather than focusing narrowly on rather than focusing narrowly on preventing only one abuse, such as preventing only one abuse, such as recruitment for sexual exploitation recruitment for sexual exploitation or military exploitation or military exploitation

• And we work to integrate a set of And we work to integrate a set of relevant protection techniques into relevant protection techniques into a protection systema protection system

PROTECTION TECHNIQUES PROTECTION TECHNIQUES TO…TO…• Enhance the capacity of individual Enhance the capacity of individual

children to protect themselves (via children to protect themselves (via advice on precautions, etc)advice on precautions, etc)

• Enable children to organise Enable children to organise collectively to protect themselves, collectively to protect themselves, once away from homeonce away from home

• Techniques to enable families to Techniques to enable families to protect their children more protect their children more effectively (both at home and after effectively (both at home and after they leave)they leave)

• Techniques which mobilise the Techniques which mobilise the community as a wholecommunity as a whole

PROTECTION TECHNIQUES PROTECTION TECHNIQUES DELIVERED AT DIFFERENT DELIVERED AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND DIFFERENT PLACES TIMES AND DIFFERENT PLACES IN A COORDINATED WAYIN A COORDINATED WAY• Targeting children before they leave Targeting children before they leave

home to help them later on;home to help them later on;• While they are in transitWhile they are in transit• To keep them in contact with relatives To keep them in contact with relatives

or others concerned about their or others concerned about their welfarewelfare

• When they arrive at a new destinationWhen they arrive at a new destination• And once they start earning a livingAnd once they start earning a living

AND (OF COURSE) WE GO ON AND (OF COURSE) WE GO ON INSISTING THAT INSISTING THAT GOVERNMENTS SHOULD GOVERNMENTS SHOULD CARRY OUT THEIR CARRY OUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIESRESPONSIBILITIES•Governments have a legal Governments have a legal

responsibility to protect responsibility to protect separated children, separated children, but often duck but often duck this responsibility by doing nothing this responsibility by doing nothing or sending children back homeor sending children back home

•And failing to take other action And failing to take other action to protect separated childrento protect separated children

PART 3PART 3CHALLENGESCHALLENGES

CONTRADICTIONS AND CONTRADICTIONS AND ENIGMASENIGMAS • Policy-makers and organisations Policy-makers and organisations

who want to protect children on the who want to protect children on the move face contradictions and move face contradictions and enigmasenigmas

• There is a divide between a There is a divide between a ‘normative’ approach (“children are ‘normative’ approach (“children are entitled to stay at home and attend entitled to stay at home and attend school”) and a ‘pragmatic’ one that school”) and a ‘pragmatic’ one that gives priority to protecting children gives priority to protecting children wherever they are in practicewherever they are in practice

ENIGMAS FOR NGOSENIGMAS FOR NGOS• Is acting in the best interests of Is acting in the best interests of

the child always a priority for the child always a priority for NGOs, international organisations NGOs, international organisations and government agencies?and government agencies?

•Do they/you have a method for Do they/you have a method for determining what is the best determining what is the best interests of a child whom you interests of a child whom you assist or affect by your activities?assist or affect by your activities?

EXAMPLE OF ENIGMAS EXAMPLE OF ENIGMAS • Some organisations think children should Some organisations think children should

be pressed to stay at home (or not be pressed to stay at home (or not migrate) until 15, 16 or 18migrate) until 15, 16 or 18

• Some ‘rescue’ children in transit, without Some ‘rescue’ children in transit, without checking on what the children wantchecking on what the children want

• Have they carried out a best interests Have they carried out a best interests determination (‘BID’)?determination (‘BID’)?

• Some are unwilling to give young people Some are unwilling to give young people advice on precautions to take when advice on precautions to take when migrating for fear that their organisation migrating for fear that their organisation might subsequently be criticised (e.g. for might subsequently be criticised (e.g. for encouraging children to migrate or if encouraging children to migrate or if precautions prove ineffective)precautions prove ineffective)

DANGER!DANGER!•That the interests of organisations That the interests of organisations

sometimes take precedence over sometimes take precedence over the interests of childrenthe interests of children

•That governments in Europe & That governments in Europe & North America subordinate North America subordinate children’s best interests to issues children’s best interests to issues of national security (i.e., policies of national security (i.e., policies on immigration)on immigration)

PART 4PART 4ACTIONACTION

WHAT NEEDS TO BE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONEDONE• Invest in finding out what risks Invest in finding out what risks chldren on the move facechldren on the move face

• What gaps in protection systems What gaps in protection systems their experience showstheir experience shows

• What informal forms of protection What informal forms of protection (as well as formal) are available to (as well as formal) are available to them, which could be strengthenedthem, which could be strengthened

• So (as usual) So (as usual) LISTEN TO CHILDREN! LISTEN TO CHILDREN! And implement last year’s General And implement last year’s General Comment by the CRC (on the child’s Comment by the CRC (on the child’s right to be heard)right to be heard)

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONEWHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE (2)(2)•Talk to children along the Talk to children along the

routes they travel, rather than routes they travel, rather than only in one placeonly in one place

•E.g. children who are preparing E.g. children who are preparing to leave and those who have to leave and those who have returned home & also those in returned home & also those in transit or at their destinationtransit or at their destination

•Make an effort to reach Make an effort to reach children who are invisible or children who are invisible or inaccessible (in transit or while inaccessible (in transit or while working)working)

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONEWHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE (3)(3)

• Are there ways that protection Are there ways that protection activities in two places (origin and activities in two places (origin and destination) can be ‘joined up’ or destination) can be ‘joined up’ or coordinated?coordinated?

• E.g. in Yunnan (Daluo & Jinghong), E.g. in Yunnan (Daluo & Jinghong), China, a child protection system China, a child protection system for children on the movefor children on the move

• It often means building an alliance It often means building an alliance with an organisation in the ‘other’ with an organisation in the ‘other’ place…difficult for some NGOs, but place…difficult for some NGOs, but potentially easier for potentially easier for IINGOs like NGOs like TDH!TDH!

SO…THERE IS A SO…THERE IS A BALANCE BALANCE TO ESTABLISH & TO ESTABLISH & DECISIONS TO MAKE…DECISIONS TO MAKE…

•Between giving priority to Between giving priority to protection and other children’s protection and other children’s rightsrights

•About the specific role of your NGO, About the specific role of your NGO, which can’t do everythingwhich can’t do everything

•What activities can you organise What activities can you organise that will reduce the likelihood that that will reduce the likelihood that children experience abuse and children experience abuse and increase the likelihood of a positive increase the likelihood of a positive outcome (from moving) from the outcome (from moving) from the child’s point of view?child’s point of view?

IDENTIFY CONVENTIONAL IDENTIFY CONVENTIONAL CHILD PROTECTION ACTORS CHILD PROTECTION ACTORS AND ALSO OTHERS WHOSE AND ALSO OTHERS WHOSE ACTIVITIES HAVE SOME ACTIVITIES HAVE SOME PROTECTIVE BENEFITPROTECTIVE BENEFIT• Assistance given by NGOsAssistance given by NGOs

• Protection and assistance from Protection and assistance from government services government services

• And explore the role of actors in And explore the role of actors in the informal sector – who have the informal sector – who have not generally been taken into not generally been taken into account (or have been regarded account (or have been regarded as «traffickers» and part of the as «traffickers» and part of the problem)problem)

ALSO IDENTIFY ACTORS WHO ALSO IDENTIFY ACTORS WHO ARE RESPONSABLE FOR ABUSE, ARE RESPONSABLE FOR ABUSE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT SUPPOSED TO PROTECT CHILDRENCHILDREN • For example, soldiers, border For example, soldiers, border

guards and police who extort guards and police who extort money or sexual favours from money or sexual favours from childrenchildren

• And policy-makers who base And policy-makers who base “protection” policies on “protection” policies on immigration and national immigration and national security concerns (e.g. in EU)security concerns (e.g. in EU)

THE IDEAL – THE IDEAL – INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE COORDINATED IN SEVERAL COORDINATED IN SEVERAL PLACES AT THE SAME TIMEPLACES AT THE SAME TIME •TDH’S Albania-Greece modelTDH’S Albania-Greece model•Save the Children in China Save the Children in China

(Yunnan)(Yunnan)•A protection system that A protection system that

covers 2 places and the covers 2 places and the space in betweenspace in between

THANK YOU FOR YOUR THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!ATTENTION!

Mike DottridgeMike DottridgeIndependent consultant Independent consultant

E-mail: mikedottridge@btopenworld.comE-mail: mikedottridge@btopenworld.com