In September 2012 an inter-agency group on children on the move, comprising 10 human rights organisations, circulated a statement highlighting their concern that countries and individuals were infringing on the rights of millions of migrant children, and that policies meant to address these violations were failing dismally.
The statement was addressed to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.
“Children make up a significant part of the large-scale and complex population movements currently taking place in many parts of the world and the number of children who are on the move is growing dramatically,” it said.
“Yet, despite the growing mobility of children, child protection and migration policies alike are not adequately addressing the violations of child rights that children on the move experience, or the specific needs of these children.”
It defined children on the move as “children moving for a variety of reasons, voluntarily or involuntarily, within or between countries, with or without their parents or other primary caregivers, and whose movement, while it may open up opportunities, might also place them at risk (or at an increased risk) of economic or sexual exploitation, abuse, neglect and violence”.
Included in the interagency group were among others, Save the Children, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Terre des Hommes.
Their statement said appropriate responses require “coherent national legislation; policies, and procedures that respond to and are reflective of the specific needs of children on the move”.
“But they also require the existence and functioning of transnational co-operation and co-ordination mechanisms that recognise the transnational dimension of much of children’s movement, and facilitate co-ordination between state and non-state actors in different countries, based on the best interests of the child.”
They called on the committee to take various actions, including asking states “to report on key initiatives and progress aimed at developing effective and appropriate child protection systems and implementing integrated, co-ordinated and comprehensive responses for all children, based on the best interests of the child and inclusive of the specific needs of children on the move”.
The agencies explained that such systems should ensure that child protection interventions are put in place before the movement; during transit, and at the child’s destination and a durable solution for each child should also be constructed with the participation of the child.
“National child protection policies, including policies and measures on care; child labour; access to justice; migration, and asylum procedures should take explicitly into account and tackle the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children on the move and include information that is age-appropriate. An assessment of the reach and impact (both positive and negative) of these policies and measures on these children should always be carried out.”
The 10 organisations that constitute the inter-agency group are constantly, informally and formally, assessing the reach and impact of these measures and keep striving to fill the gaps they find in them.
African countries are renowned to be the biggest contributor of migrants to their neighbouring countries and continents, including thousands that flee their countries for Europe.
For years, Libya’s shores have been the point of departure for thousands of these people, who flee poverty and conflict affecting western and sub-Saharan Africa.
Recently the deteriorating political and security situation in Libya has led to a surge in the number of migrants entering Europe, and Save the Children Italy has worked tirelessly to ensure that as far as possible their rights are respected.
Head of Child Protection for Save the Children Italy, Carlotta Bellini, said about 95520 migrants arrived in Italy between January and August this year, including 8 880 children.
Of these, 5 920 were unaccompanied children, mainly from Eritrea, Somalia, Gambia, Egypt and Nigeria.
Testimonies from unaccompanied children who have arrived in Italy in the last few days describe Libya “as a land of violence, with armed people walking the streets and constant threats to migrants,” said Bellini.
“Due to the poor living conditions in Libya and the detention that migrants often are given there, the number of those affected by scabies and lice increased.”
She said children face journeys that often include “dehydration and malnutrition; kidnapping, detention and extortion; child slavery; trafficking; sexual abuse and other forms of cruel treatment, all without the protection of their families”.
Upon their arrival in Europe, unaccompanied children are the most vulnerable and at the greatest risk of falling prey to human traffickers who force them into manual labour; domestic work; drug smuggling, and prostitution.
“But anyone under the age of 18 is a child, by law, and must be given protection, as is their fundamental right.”
Italy is struggling with the high volume of migrants entering the country.
One result is that conditions at first reception facilities remain sub-standard, said Bellini.
“On August 4, for example, during the sea landing of 398 migrants in Crotone, 180 unaccompanied children were transferred to reception facilities … 70 of the unaccompanied children transferred to a reception centre in Crotone have not received any change of clothes; the reception centre only has one bathroom, and no hygienic-health kits were distributed.”
To combat the country’s inadequate response, Save the Children Italy has stepped in where it can to protect these children’s rights.
Its strategy includes informing families and children of their rights, monitoring disembarkation and reception facilities, and running its own child-friendly spaces.
In Sicily, Calabria and Apulia the organisation “works in disembarkation areas as well as in first reception facilities and children’s homes, where our job is to explain to families with children and to unaccompanied children the legal process and their rights, along with assessing any specific needs they may have, being health or psychological assistance, and referring them to the relevant social services”, said Bellini.
“We monitor reception standards and provide capacity building activities in reception centres and children’s homes, and we support the authorities in the identification of long-term solutions in the children’s best interests.”
In Rome and Milan the organisation has set up “day and night centres where children are offered showers, clothes, food, medical support, legal advice, and guidance on the asylum-seeking process”.
“One of our night centres is specifically for Afghan and Eritrean children who have travelled alone, as they tend to have taken long and difficult journeys and have specific needs.”
At the Central Railway Station in Milan, Save the Children Italy opened a child friendly space offering recreational and educational activities, including access to paediatric support and referrals. The space also plays a leading role in the co-ordination of all the activities of associations and organisations willing to co-operate for the wellbeing of migrant children.
She said strategies to help migrant children fail when countries act in silos (alone).
A Save the Children statement in August said the organisation is extremely concerned “about the dire situation migrant children and families are currently facing in Calais, at the border between France and UK; in Spain; in Italy, and in Greece … and about the many young lives being lost in the search for freedom and protection”.
It showed the “present lack of capacity and will” in the European Union (EU) “to address the situation strategically and with a view to achieving long-term solutions”.
The organisation urged the EU to “immediately put in place an effective relocation system to address this situation, with specific priority given to children”; and to “protect the most vulnerable people, particularly children, in their activities at the borders, with systematic consideration given to the best interest of the child”.