This programming guide was developed by the Children on the Move Task Group that brings together Save the Children most experienced practitioners across the world within the framework of their Child Protection Global Theme.
This programming guide is a tool to help Save the Children’s staff in the many varied and complex situations in which they work to provide much-needed care and support to children on the move.
The programme guidance aims to:
- Enhance knowledge management and mutual learning among staff working with children on the move, so that both experienced and less experienced protection practitioners can learn from one another.
- Facilitate improved understanding of the different interventions and activities that Save the Children can and does implement to protect children on the move, to keep children safe and ensure durable or sustainable solutions.
- Improve staff capacity and confidence to design and deliver a range of child protection interventions to support children on the move, with consideration of best interests of children.
- Provide brief descriptions of interventions that enhance the protection of children on the move in 3 main areas:
- pre-flight, pre-migration,
- in migration or displacement, and
- durable/ sustainable solutions for children.
- Signpost readers to existing guidance and tools that can support staff to design and deliver child protection interventions for children on the move in different contexts including:
- In situations where there is a high likelihood of migration
- Humanitarian contexts and situations of forced rapid displacement
- In situations of protracted displacement
- In preparation for and on return / reintegration
Reasons why children are on the move
- Economic reasons – family poverty and search for better livelihood and jobs
- Unemployment, low wages, and lack of access to basic services in rural or remote areas
- To access better quality education
- To accompany or be reunited with family members
- Violence, abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual), neglect or exploitation in their family or care setting
- The threat of child marriage and other forms of gender-based violence
- Inequality, social exclusion and discrimination (based on ethnicity, gender, or other factors)
- Socio-cultural traditions which value migration
- Family disputes
- Conflict and insecurity
- Climate change, disaster, drought or famine
- Forced displacement
- Death or illness of a parent
- Lack of freedom, boredom, peer influence, or to join friends
- They are tricked or abducted
You can download this guide for free here.
