FINAL REPORT - Save the Children Italia Onlus

FINAL REPORTDevelopment of a Child Rights Methodology to Identify and Support Child Victims of TraffickingINTRODUCTIONDue to the absence of systematically compiled and comparable data, it is impossible todetermine the exact magnitude of child trafficking in Europe. Nonetheless, many are thechildren believed to be trafficked in Europe for several purposes, these including sexualexploitation, exploitation in begging, illegal activities (mainly theft or petty crimes), otherforms of forced labour and illegal adoptions. Children may cross international borders orsometimes, may be trafficked within the same country. In both situations, they areexposed to a series of human rights violations, not least, in some cases, their right to life.They are therefore particularly vulnerable and in need of special assistance andprotection.FINAL REPORTDevelopment of a Child Rights Methodology to Identify and Support Child Victims of TraffickingACKNOWLEDGMENTSMany are the individuals and organisations that contributed to the implementation ofthis project.Special thanks go to the staff of the partner organisations who contributed to the resultsof the project, in terms of research, training, publication, organisation and media work.The project partners also acknowledge with appreciation the representatives of public andprivate organisations and institutions for their support and cooperation in theimplementation of some of the project activities.The partners are also very grateful to the children who agreed to be interviewed for thisproject and consider their participation as a crucial step of the work achieved. 41UN RecommendedPrinciples and Guidelineson Human Rights andTrafficking in HumanBeings, E/2002/68/Add.1, 20/05/2002,principle 1.2See for example:ENACT (EuropeanNetwork against ChildTrafficking) -http://www.savethechildren.it/2003/index.asp?area=pubblicazioni&n_pag=1&anno=2004. Comprehensivetraining for Lawenforcement Authoritiesresponsible fortrafficking inchildren/minors -http://austria.iom.int/en/artikel.php?menu_id=43&artikel_id=473&history_back=true.Identification andprotection schemes forvictims of trafficking inpersons in Europehttp://www.belgium.iom.int/AGIS2004/PDF/AGIS%20_Publication_FINAL_cover%2013.12.2005.pdf.3See for example:Separated Children inEurope ProgrammeStatement of GoodPractices:http://www.separatedchildren-europe-prUNOHCHRGuidelines:http://www.ohchr.org/english/about/publications/docs/trafficking.doc.UNHCR Guidelines:http://www.unhcr.org/publ/PUBL/3d4f91cf4.pdf. UNICEFTrafficking Guidelines:http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/0610-Unicef_Victims_Guidelines_en.pdf. UNICEFReference Guide:http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/UNICEF_Child_Trafficking1-13.pdf.As stated in the United Nations Recommended Principles and Guidelines on HumanRights and Trafficking in Human Beings, “The human rights of trafficked persons shallbe at the centre of all efforts to prevent and combat trafficking and to protect, assist andprovide redress to victims” 1 .Child victims and those at risk of becoming victims of trafficking can not receiveadequate protection and assistance if they are not identified correctly. Failure to do so,may lead to further denial of the children’s fundamental rights.In the light of the above, within the European Commission AGIS Programme 2005,Save the Children Italy, in cooperation with the Partners Bulgaria Foundation, CaritasGermany and Save the Children Romania, have implemented the project “Developmentof a child rights methodology to identify and support child victims of trafficking”.Acknowledging the need for a child rights based, multi-disciplinary and inter-agencyapproach to identification and support of child victims, a specific methodology for theidentification and support of child victims was developed in this project, in consultationwith relevant stakeholders, private and public actors (NGOs, law enforcement agents, thejudiciary and public institutions). This methodology was also informed by the latestresearch on child trafficking conducted in the four project countries as well as practicesfor identification and support as identified in this project. It also built on previous EUprojects on child trafficking 2 , and took into consideration important internationalinstruments and guidelines on children’s rights, as well as identification and support ofchild victims 3 .This Final Report summarises the outcome of the project activities, results andrecommendations.4It is the opinion of theimplementingorganizations that allthe actors working inthe field of traffickingshould listen andconsult with children,both victims and at riskof trafficking, whendeveloping theiractivities. Theimplementingorganizations recognizethe “agency” of childvictims and at risk,therefore, considerthem as actors whoactively participate inclaiming their rights.At the same time, theyconsider fundamentalthat children’sparticipation becarefully planned,implemented andmonitored according toclear ethical principlesreflecting child rightsstandards.6 7