EveryChild
4 Bath Place
Rivington Street
London
EC2A 3DR
T +44 (0)20 7749 2468
F +44 (0)20 7729 8339
How does separation affect children?
Separated children, like millions of others, go to bed hungry, do not get a proper education and are forced to work long hours. But, because they are separated from their families, they suffer even greater adversity.
Forced to cope with a grim and frightening adult world, they face innumerable hardships on their own. Vulnerable and invisible, they are susceptible to violence, emotional injury and abuse.
A bleak future
A child growing up without the protection of their family or community has little or no access to education or vital healthcare. Statistics show they have a high risk of becoming involved in criminal activities or substance use. They may be sexually active at an early age and vulnerable to unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
The cycle often repeats itself: it is not uncommon to see second and third generation street children in some towns and cities, and parents who have been placed in an institution themselves, are likely to do the same to their children.
Developmental delays
Secure attachment to a parent or care-giver in the early years of a child's development is an important basis for trust and the foundation of a healthy personality in adult life. Our experience and research has shown that children who become separated from their family show poor emotional, social and physical development.
Long-term institutional care has been found to be particularly damaging to children. As well as showing signs of developmental delays, young adults who have spent a large part of their childhood in large residential institutions are over-represented among the unemployed, the homeless, those who abuse substances, have been in jail, or have been sexually exploited.
Discrimination and stigmatisation
Discrimination and stigmatisation against separated children is common, particularly against those who are disabled, affected/infected by HIV/AIDS, living in residential care or living and working on the street. This, combined with a loss of family identity, can lead to depression and other mental health problems.
Children who come into conflict with the law are also often subjected to violence and a lack of legal protection during arrest and detention.
Multiple violations of their rights
Children who are separated and living without parental or community care face multiple violations of their rights: they are not listened to, are unprotected and exploited, often discriminated against and have little or no access to education or healthcare. To uphold children's rights and protect them against violence and abuse, the behaviours that devalue children must be changed and the relevant people and bodies who are responsible for their care must be held accountable.