Nov 22 nd 2010 Lausanne “Children on the move” meeting Lausanne ADDRESSING TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS: GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSES IN THE EU AND NGO STRATEGIES OUTSIDE THE EU “Viewpoints shared at Barcelona conference on ‘children on the move’ ” ‘children on the move’ ” Pierre Cazenave Lausanne Tuesday, November 22 nd 2010

Nov 22 nd 2010 Lausanne “Children on the move” meeting Lausanne Who are “children on the move” ? Absence of an internationally agreed definition A term that people fear? The office of the UNHCHR talks about “children in the context of migration” which includes both children left behind and children on the move

Nov 22 nd 2010 Lausanne “Children on the move” meeting Lausanne Different realities Different status:  Legal Migrant Children  Illegal Migrant Children  Asylum seeking children  Stateless children  Children victims of trafficking  Children of migrant families  Etc. Different forms of migration…  Traditional  Forced  Voluntary  Cultural  Pushed (based on environment of origin factors) …at different stages:  Pre-mobility  Mobility  Post mobility  Children left behind  Cyclical

Nov 22 nd 2010 Lausanne “Children on the move” meeting Lausanne Categorization: Child trafficking and “children on the move” approaches Tendency to categorize children that might have diverted both attention and policy response from children in the context of migration in general, however:  A holistic approach does not impede a differential individual case management  Methods focusing on the protection of children on the move do help protect children from trafficking.  Transnational coordination and collaboration mechanisms are crucial for both protecting children on the move and prevent child trafficking

Nov 22 nd 2010 Lausanne “Children on the move” meeting Lausanne Gaps in today’s approach The institutional response to the needs of children on the move is not adequate nor does it reach children Migration has only been studied through its negative angle. However, migration can bring benefits to children Lack of empirical evidence Lack of collaboration at regional and transnational levels Top down approach: no or little child participation + difficulty to conciliate local norms with national laws and international standards.

Nov 22 nd 2010 Lausanne “Children on the move” meeting Lausanne What do “children on the move” want Children want:  access to basic services: “often they find obstacles along their path to find food, accommodation, hygiene, health services  to feel safe  a legal existence (Status, I.D.)  education  support  information  to be protected from different kind of abuse  their voice to be heard!

Nov 22 nd 2010 Lausanne “Children on the move” meeting Lausanne Recommendations Overall goal: To create child protection systems able to accompany children along their migratory path, aiming at their intellectual and physical development Participation of children to their own protection is a must Policies must take advantage of children mobility more than consider it as a negative process (return issue) Children must be considered as agents and not as passive Resilience of children must be increased (for instance through life skills programs or awareness raising activities in regions of origin)

Nov 22 nd 2010 Lausanne “Children on the move” meeting Lausanne Recommendations Empirical evidence and information must be collected prior to the design of protection policies A paradigm shift is needed towards a systemic approach Child protection systems should be able to offer protection at every stage of the child’s mobility Traditional and/or non formal community-based structures, and local networks, should be included in both the design and implementation of projects aiming at protecting children on the move An ambitious and adequate development policy must be coupled with policies developed to protect children on the move

Nov 22 nd 2010 Lausanne “Children on the move” meeting Lausanne Voices of children Representative of the African movement of children and young workers:  “You do not have to always consider children as victims. […] the reality is that children fear you […]. You ignore the existence of many things, as you did not live them. I have the impression that you want to put children into boxes. Everyone of us is different, has a different story, went through a specific experience, and only this person knows how to change this part of his/her life. You are not masters of the field. You can however observe this field and bring new ideas so as to make it more balanced. We need you as an elder brother who knows how to listen and who puts children at ease. Children need no money, no state, but a family, solidarity, encouragement and self-confidence”.

Nov 22 nd 2010 Lausanne “Children on the move” meeting Lausanne Thank you!