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COMMIT | Policy recommendations to engage diaspora & migrant communities in protecting children’s rights

KMOP has published a policy paper entitled “Empowering Diaspora and Migrant Communities to Safeguard Children’s Rights.” This comprehensive report presents a crucial set of policy suggestions, with the primary objective of enabling migrant communities to actively advocate for and protect the rights of children, especially those impacted by migration.

The policy paper sheds light on the significant challenges faced by millions of children who are on the move, whether within their own country or across international borders. These children migrate due to various reasons, such as escaping war, natural disasters, violence, abuse, and poverty, as well as to reunite with family members abroad or seek better opportunities. Unfortunately, children affected by migration often encounter discrimination, violence, exploitation, and trafficking, while lacking access to education, healthcare, child-friendly information, social protection, and legal representation. Furthermore, they are frequently unaware of their rights and face barriers to accessing information.

To address these critical issues, the policy paper presents a comprehensive set of recommendations that emphasise the pivotal role of migrant communities in championing children’s rights.

Some of the key recommendations highlighted in the report include:

Building trust and cultivating relationships with migrant communities: Establishing open and meaningful communication channels with migrant communities is essential in promoting children’s rights. Patience, respect, and consistency are key to building trust, and community leaders play a crucial role in facilitating engagement strategies.

Creating safe spaces for migrant communities: Safe spaces provide opportunities for migrant communities to share experiences, access a range of services such as psychological support and gender-based violence prevention, and receive information on children’s rights in a culturally appropriate and non-discriminatory environment.

Demystifying myths for children on the move: Children, regardless of their migration status or that of their caregivers, have the same rights as all children. It is imperative to ensure that children in migration are treated equally and protected in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

Capacity-building for migrant communities on the rights of the child: Collaborative efforts between states and child-focused civil society organisations should include culturally sensitive capacity-building activities to raise awareness and understanding of children’s rights among migrant communities, encompassing parents, caregivers, and children themselves.

Awareness-raising activities on the rights of the child: Organising information days and events aimed at migrant communities can significantly enhance knowledge and understanding of children’s rights. These activities should provide comprehensive information on relevant laws, policies, and available support services.

Providing access to information: Competent state agencies and civil society organisations should offer translated materials and resources on children’s rights, as well as information on national services and multilingual helplines for child protection. Empowering migrant communities with information enables them to advocate effectively for children’s rights.

Enhancing intercultural competence among service providers and state agencies: Training and resources should be provided to develop intercultural competence among professionals working with migrant communities. Understanding and valuing cultural diversity are crucial in effectively engaging and supporting these communities.

Providing language and cultural support: Language and cultural support, including translated materials and access to interpreters, are vital in overcoming language barriers and facilitating meaningful communication with migrant communities.

Co-creation of solutions and involving migrant communities in policy and decision-making processes: Collaborative efforts with migrant communities to identify and address issues affecting children’s rights empower them to contribute to solutions. Involving children and youth in policy development and decision-making processes is crucial, as their perspectives and active participation ensure child-centered approaches and effective solutions.

Engaging the wider community: Competent state agencies and civil society organisations must actively involve the wider community in the promotion of children’s rights. By engaging the broader community, greater awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by migrant children can be fostered, leading to a culture that respects the rights of every child.

Additionally, the Policy Paper presents best practices on the promotion of the rights of the child by migrant communities, such as a wide range of educational materials, games, and European projects.

Read the Policy Paper HERE.

 

About the COMMIT project

The Policy Paper was developed as part of the “COMMIT-Engaging diaspora and migrant COMMunities in the protection of the rIghTs of the child” project, which is co-funded by the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme. The project aims to encourage the active engagement of migrant and diaspora communities in promoting children’s rights. It has been implemented in four European countries with significant migration flows throughout history, namely Italy, Greece, Cyprus, and France. The consortium responsible for the project consists of CISS – Cooperazione Internationale Sud Sud (Italy), KMOP – Social Action and Innovation Centre (Greece), Melissa – Network for migrant and refugee women (Greece), HFC – Hope for Children CRC Policy Center (Cyprus), and Soliha Provence – Solidaires pour l’habitat (France). For more information, please visit the project website: https://www.commit-project.eu/.

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