Children At High Risk Of Humantrafficking Participation In The Decision Making Process

Slide 1:Children at high risk of human trafficking: participation in the decision-making processVladlena AvdeevaProject managerRegional Public Organization “Stellit”(Saint Petersburg)Slide 2:Children victims of traffickingAccording to UNICEF data, approximately 28% of identified victims of human trafficking are children.In 2016 40 million people were victims of human trafficking, 10 million of them are children (according to the report of International Labor Organization and Walk Free Foundation).Refugee, migrant and displaced children are especially vulnerable to trafficking.Latent crime – the number of child trafficking victims is higher than data presented in official statistics.Slide 3:Child participation in decision-makingChild participation is an ongoing process of children’s expression and active involvement in decision making at different levels in matters that concern them. (UNICEF: Child Participation).It requires information sharing and dialogue between children and adults based on mutual respect.Child participation is one of the CRC’s four guiding principles alongside with non-discrimination; the best interests of the child; and life, survival and development.Slide 4:Legislative basis for child participationConvention on the Rights of the Child, Article 12«States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child».National Strategy on Action for Children for 2012—2017. Section VII. Children as participants of the implementation of the National Strategy.The Decade of Childhood (2018-2027)Slide 5:Achieving goals of the National Strategy on Action for ChildrenThere is no standard monitoring of child participation in decision making process, which does not allow to conduct a quantitative assessment and comparative regional analysis of this participation.According to qualitative assessment allows us to conclude that the expected results of the implementation of this part of the National Strategy and the principle of child participation in decision-making affecting their interests were achieved only partially.Slide 6:Monitoring the Well-Being of Children in Formal Care InstitutionsProject objectives: developing and piloting methods and procedures to access the well-being and observance of rights of children left without parental care; analyzing the attitudes of children and adults to this assessment.Funding: Grant received by the Regional Public Organization “Stellit” in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated January 17, 2014 No. 11-rp and on the basis of a competition held by the Institute of Socio-Economic and Political Studies Foundation.Slide 7:MethodsGuiding principles:Assessment of the well-being from child perspective.Children are the main source of information.Maximum coverage of children aged 10-17 years.Adapted survey methods for children.The maximum possible range of topics that are important for children.Methods:Survey among children (groups up to 10 children) and individual structured interviews (children aged 7-10 and children with developmental disorders)Observation conducted by the psychologists)Interviews with tutors and administration of the formal care institutionsSlide 8:Research project «Social Trajectories of Children in Contemporary Russia»Research purpose: assessment of the impact of child protection social institutions, family and behavioral factors on the life trajectories of children who are in contact with child welfare system.Sample: 113 cases. Each case is based on an interviews with a child, parent and social worker.Methods: focused interviews with children (from 10 to 17 years of age), parents or other legal representatives and specialists.Guiding principle: children as key informants of the research.Funding: Russian Science Foundation, project No 16-18-10372.Slide 9:Consultations with children as expertsPurpose of consultation with children and teenagers is collecting their ideas and recommendations on where to look for help and support in situations of abuse, exploitation and human trafficking, as well as on the components of an ideal shelter for children.Place: Shelter “Transit”(Saint Petersburg).Dates: 8 and 11 September 2017.Facilitators: psychologists of the shelter “Transit”.Participants:Group 1. 2 girls and 1 boy aged from 15 to 17, from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and from RussiaGroup 2. 3 boys aged from 9 to 11, 1 from Russia, 2 from TajikistanSlide 10:MethodsParticipants were asked to continue the story of a child who is separated from his or her parents, is living in a difficult and risky situation and is trying to leave this situation.Children were asked to draw a picture of a “safety map” of a shelter for children: to discuss and define the main elements of the ideal shelter for children where children could feel safe, comfortable and so that they could find resources to overcome negative consequences of their past experience.Slide 11:Results: Who can child talk to in order to get help?ParentsFriendsOther exploited childrenPeople in similar situation (e.g. those working at the same factory with the child)PoliceShelter staffMedical workersMetro staffTaxi driversTrack driversStrangers at the street (40-50 years olds)Clients of the factory shopMass mediaExploiterSlide 12:Results: Where can a child seek help?PoliceShelterHospitalSleeping district of the cityParkShopping CenterChurchMetro stationSlide 13:Results: How the child could take care about him/herself?Ask someone for foodRunaway and get home by foot/ hitch-hikingFind a job, earn the money, buy phone and get in touch with relativesDo something to attract attention of the policeRunaway and sleep at cellarsTeam up with other children ask the exploiter to take them back homeHide the documents from exploiters or run away without documentsWait until parents find the childSlide 14:Results: How can people recognize that the child is in difficult situation?SadHas bruise, injuriesCan hardly workTiredWalks back and forceSpends free time aloneSlide 15:Results: elements of an ideal shelter (children aged 9-11)Place to play the computerPlace to sleepDelicious food, including the possibility to eat in the KFC, Burger King, McDonaldsToys, board games, billiards, bowling, shooting galleryClubs (camps), trainings (including beadwork, sports sections, theater studio, excursions)Washing machine, fridgeAvailability of mobile phoneTo be allowed to wear prettiest, child’s own clothes, sandals, and not slippersThe opportunity to meet bikers and learn to ride a motorcyclePets’ corner with dogs, cats, and hamstersOpportunity to communicate with parents and other relativesTo be allowed to go out with friends from 12 yearsHome school, where children could be taught to readBirthday gifts, e.g. a cakeGym, swimming pool, JacuzziToilet where the door could be closedClocks and an opportunity to learn the day of the week to know child’s schedule and understand when he/she will be fedSlide 16:Results: elements of an ideal shelter (children aged 9-11)Should be more male staffA kind cook who will bake bunsKind security guardsMedical attendant, doctorMagicianWhat kind of assistance should get a child:A child should tell his/her story, and the offender must be arrestedSlide 17:Results: elements of an ideal shelter (children aged 15-17)Isolator where doctors could check the health status of a childSoft bedsClasses for children, taking into account age and interestsOpportunity for children to participate in the household activitiesAvailability of outdoor activities (museums, football, hockey games), trips out of the city, in other cities, children’s camps.Separate places for boys/ girls/ small children and places where they could meet; small children should live in a separate placeGirls need to be allowed to take care for the small childrenOpportunity to attend schoolThe courtyard where children can go for a walk without a caregiver, whenever they want. It should be possible to walk there alone and think.Slide 18:Results: elements of an ideal shelter (children aged 15-17)Place for the person to be alone, to cry, to beat a punching bagDining room where you can help to cook and set the tableGym, training: swimming pool, box, judo, karate, wrestling, dancingThe possibility of staging theatrical performancesRoom for costumesDining room with sofas and TVPhoto studio, audio studio, studio for editingOpportunity to play the game console, but there should be time limitsOpportunity to call relatives and friends (so that everyone has the same amount of time for communication)Possibility to have petsSlide 19:Results: shelter staff (children aged 15-17)Security guardsMedical workersPsychologistDirectorPE instructorTutor and psychologist who talk to childrenHandicraft teacher for boys, the seamstress for training of girlsSlide 20:Results: shelter staff (children aged 15-17)The staff members should be confident, should be able to tell the child the truth but to prepare for this information firstShould take into account opinion of the child, his/her will to meet with parentsShould allow a child to keep calm, cope with his/her emotionsShould tell stories of other children so that the child so that a child could realize the possible consequences of his/her decisions, see different scenarios, and make the right decisionShould respect the child and be able to explain everything in a calm way in case if a child does not understand anything, but should be strict at some extentShould treat all the children equally, should not have those whom they like more and whom they like lessShould have a sense of humorSlide 21:Results: types of assistanceAccessibility (a child could come and leave at his/her own request)The shelter should be accessible both for children who have registration in St Petersburg and those who do not haveLegal assistanceMedical assistanceSlide 22:ConclusionAccording to the results of consultations with children, one of the most important characteristics of providing assistance for children is taking their opinions into account and informing about the situation.The components of the "ideal" shelter for children include the opportunity to develop everyday skills and to have private space, as well as the opportunities for self-realization creative activities, sports, and education.Consultations with children as experts could be used in developing the preventive programs and recommendations for professionals involved in the identification and rehabilitation of children suffered from abuse, exploitation and human trafficking.Slide 23:Thanks for your attentionVladlena AvdeevaProject managerRegional Public Organization of Social Projects in Sphere of Population’s Well-Being “Stellit”Website: ngostellit.ruEmail: vladlena.avdeeva@gmail.com