Kids Abroad: Ignore them, abuse them or protect them? Lessons on How to Protect Children on the Move from Being Exploited.
Author(s): M. Dottridge
The focus of this study is on exploring the experiences of young people who leave their home or travel abroad to seek work or a better life and also children who are sent away from home by their parents. The first part of the study introduces examples of state policy mechanisms that exist today in order to protect children on the move. The second part presents empirical examples from six regions of the world of initiatives by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to protect children on the move. The regions are: Central America, South East Europe and the Baltic States, Western Europe, Western Africa, South Asia and South East Asia. The final part makes a summary of common issues found across different regions of the world and provides some recommendations for a further policy debate. These include the fact that there is not enough assistance and support provided to children who are actually in transit. Organisations engaged in efforts to stop children being abused and exploited are still not sure whether their objective should be to stop children migrating (or working) or to make it safer for them to do so. Furthermore, within this context it becomes vital to listen to children as well as involving them as actors in efforts to enhance child protection. Particularly in developing countries, making gradual changes to existing protection systems could bring significant benefits to children. Modern information technology may offer some solutions, for example enabling children on the move to stay in contact with their parents or others, and this potential has not been explored adequately by child protection specialists. However, further attention has to be given to understanding ‘indigenous' practices which have the effect of protecting children from harm, either techniques which benefit children in particular or techniques which help migrants in general.