Project co-funded by the European Union s Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme CONFERENCE CHILDREN S RIGHTS IN ACTION 26 th MARCH 2013 2:00-5:00 p.m. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT MEETING ROOM 6Q1 BUILDING ALTIERO SPINELLI - SIMONE VEIL ENTRANCE PLACE DU LUXEMBOURG - BRUSSELS Project Partners www.alberodellavita.org/children-rights-en/
Children s Rights in Action. in migration across Europe. T Multinational research project that aims to identify and understand the children s needs who migrate to Italy and Spain and those of the children who come back to Romania after a migration experience. THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND CITIZENSHIP PROGRAMME OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND CITIZENSHIP PROGRAMME AIMS TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A EUROPEAN SOCIETY BASED ON RESPECT FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND RIGHTS DERIVED FROM EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP. Objectives of the programme: Strengthen civil society and encourage an open, transparent and regular dialogue on fundamental rights; Combat racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism; Promote better understanding between religions and cultures; Promote increased tolerance in the whole of the EU; Strengthen contacts, exchange of information and networks between the judicial and administrative authorities and the legal professions; Encourage judicial training in order to improve mutual understanding between the abovementioned authorities and professions. In the framework of the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme, the Directorate-General for Justice of the European Commission funded the research project Children s Rights in Action, Improving children s rights in migration across Europe. The Romanian case. The Project, coordinated by L Albero della Vita Foundation Onlus, started in March 2011 thanks to the participation of: ISMU Foundation, the Italian partner; University of Barcelona and IRES Foundation, the Spanish partners; Alternative Sociale Association, the Romanian partner. Fondazione L Albero della Vita Onlus www.alberodellavita.org
.. Improving children s rights The Romanian case. THE PROJECT THE PROJECT CHILDREN S RIGHTS IN ACTION, IMPROVING CHILDREN S RIGHTS IN MIGRATION ACROSS EUROPE. THE ROMANIAN CASE. The different economic and professional conditions between EU member states often induce European citizens to leave their country in search of better opportunities. This is the case of Romania, where more than 3 million out of an active population of 9.9 million citizens decide to migrate abroad, mainly to Italy and Spain. Often, adults migrate from Romania alone, leaving temporarily their children at home in care of grandparents or members of the extended family. Other times, adults migrate together with their children. In both cases, children involved are in a vulnerable position. Starting from these premises, this multinational research project aims to identify and understand the needs of children migrating from Romania to Italy and Spain and the condition of those children who returned to Romania after an experience of migration, to promote good practices to reduce their vulnerability and to promote their rights. Main objectives of the project are the following: To conduct the first organic research on the condition of Romanian children migrating from Romania to Italy and Spain; To analyze, for the first time, the cases of children who returned to Romania after a failed experience of migration to Italy or Spain; To identify and produce a set of good practices to assure to Romanian children their rights and to address specific emerging issues in Italy and Spain; To sensitize Italian, Spanish and Romanian citizens and disseminate the good practices between Institutions and non-state actors daily committed to migration issues. Children s Rights in Action
THE RESEARCH IN ITALY MIGRANT CHILDREN: ROMANIAN MINORS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN ITALY, BY ISMU FOUNDATION Research conducted in March 2011 on a sample of 242 Romanian families living in Rome, Milan and Turin. The research investigated the migration effects on children migrating from Romania with their families. The research results show that: As evidenced by the research, most frequent obstacles to integration are those legal/bureaucratic procedures related to the access to healthcare and welfare systems. Only 75,2% of the children benefits from pediatric care. 61,1% of the interviewed families had linguistic problems related to the integration and 19% had problems with school integration. 93,5% of the interviewed children is regularly enrolled in school, but 12,3% of males and 10% of females lost one or more years due to their migration process. First in promoting the integration are compatriots already living in Italy and second are Italians, especially those whose parents worked or are still working. Only 9% of Romanian parents living in Italy would like their children come back to Romania. Most of the Romanian children living in Italy are ashamed by their nationality and they hide it to avoid discrimination related to confusion between Romanians and Roma people. In this sense, media have a central role in stigmatizing the nationality. Fondazione L Albero della Vita Onlus www.alberodellavita.org
THE RESEARCH IN SPAIN BY THE UNIVERSITY OF BARCELONA AND IRES FOUNDATION Research conducted from March 2011 on a sample of 251 Romanian families, 126 living in Madrid and 125 in the autonomous region of Catalonia. Migration is generally due to economic reasons. The first generation is the one who most wants to return to their country of origin. They describe the migration process as circumstantial and temporary. Compatriots support has a central role at the arrival, but it s less relevant in comparison to that of the community network (co-workers, neighbours, fellow parents of school children). Language is a first difficulty but it does not represent an obstacle due to its similarities with Romance languages. The school integration is one of the key components in social inclusion and it is related to an inadequate link between school system conditions and the migration processes. In Spain it is essential to promote social policies that provide the coexistence of migrants. Many examples of good practices in Spain have been identified: The Pact for immigration, Environment Educations Plans and social host policies in Catalonia. The best practices at school need to be highlighted: the Integration Plan, the Welcome reception groups to new students, Intensive individualized Plan and Language, Intercultural and social Cohesion Programme. Public social campaigns like those called anti-rumors help breaking stereotypes, there have been a proposal from civil society supported by local governments. In all cases the challenge is on the participation of Romanian people in the decisions and practices that affect themselves as citizens, through their organizations and those of other communities. Children s Rights in Action
THE RESEARCH IN ROMANIA THE REMIGRATION OF ROMANIAN CHILDREN: 2008-2012, BY ALTERNATIVE SOCIALE ASSOCIATION Research conducted On March 2011 on a sample of 245 children living in 6 Romanian regions: Vrancea and Vaslui (Moldova), Buzau (Muntenia), Dolj (Oltenia), Arad (Crisana-Maramures) and Cluj (Ardeal). 92,24% of children who participated to the research study was well-disposed to migration, but only 76,39% of them have been consulted by their parents before leaving. Concerning the return to Romania, in half of cases it is due to re-migration of the parents, because of the failed adjustment to the hosting country and/or to financial problems. In half of cases, children migrate and come back to Romania with their families. For half of the interviewed children, the time spent abroad is more than 3 years, and it causes more risks in the re-adjustment process to Romanian life. The more is the time spent without interacting with the socio-cultural Romanian background, the more the children s re-adjustment fails, due to individual factors: 72,05% is referred to habits acquired during the stay abroad. From 10% to 15% of children returned to Romania developed specific disorders (emotional, behavioural, attentional, relational disorders) related to their re-integration. According to estimates, this percentage increases by about 1000 units per year. Now, parents attention devoted to the insertion difficulties is inadequate, because they consider the school as a measure of the child well-being and adjustment. Furthermore, the study evidences the social services and teachers inadequacy in preventing and working on such difficulties. Fondazione L Albero della Vita Onlus www.alberodellavita.org
FONDAZIONE ISMU Initiatives and Studies on Multiethnicity (ISMU) was founded in 1991 and in 1993 attained the legal status of Foundation. ISMU is an autonomous and independent organization promoting studies, research, projects, inquiries and initiatives concerning multiethnic and multicultural society, in particular focusing on the phenomenon of international migration fl ows, such as those related to social and demographic aspects, education, labour market, law, health, housing, culture and religion. ISMU is responsible for the implementation of the National research in Italy and for the realization of the European volume. UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA The University of Barcelona (UB) is a public University and it was founded in 1450. Degrees are offered in 73 different areas of teaching with numerous postgraduate and doctorate programs as well as continuing education courses. The UB is the largest of the six universities of Barcelona and of the ten in Catalonia. It is ranked the fi rst Spanish university, and the twenty third European institutions, in scientifi c quality and productivity. Moreover it is Spain s leading Research University, publishing more research than any other Spanish institution with the exception of CSIC, the national research council. The University of Barcelona is responsible of the Spanish research and of the dissemination of the research results across Spain. FUNDACIÓ INSTITUT DE REINSERCIO SOCIAL IReS Fundació Institut de Reinserció Social (IReS) is a non-profi t organization. Since its creation in 1969, it carries out a social task, assistance, educational and preventive addressed to people and collectives who live in a deprived situation, economic precariousness or in social exclusion. IReS mission is to develop innovative and qualifi ed social activities in order to help people and to deal with emerging social problems, intending to have also effect on the roots of social confl icts and exclusion. In cooperation with the University of Barcelona, IReS is responsible of the Spanish research. ASSOCIATIA ALTERNATIVE SOCIALE Alternative Sociale Association (AAS) is a non governmental organization established in 1997 by a group of students from the Cuza University of Iasi, Faculty of Social Assistance. Alternative Sociale Association works to protect and promote human rights through prevention activities, assistance, training, research and advocacy in several areas, such as human traffi cking, child victims of abuse/neglect, elder persons, labour exploitation, promoting non-custodial alternatives for detention, negative effects of migration, training for professionals, promotion of volunteering, studies and research, lobby and advocacy, juvenile delinquency. In particular, AAS has a great experience on the subject of migration. AAS is responsible of the implementation of the National research in Romania, for the identifi cation and dissemination of good practices among specialists. Children s Rights in Action
FONDAZIONE L ALBERO DELLA VITA ONLUS Fondazione L Albero della Vita was established in 2004 with the aim to protect and respond to all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence against children in Italy and in the developing countries. It s a large organization working all over Italy, in Europe and in some developing countries. Moreover, the Foundation promotes campaigns to raise awareness on children s rights in the world. Its commitment is widely recognized by local, national and international institutions and made possible by its numerous supporters, both enterprises and individuals. Fondazione L Albero della Vita, as coordinator, is responsible for the overall management of the project, coordination of tasks, liaison with the Commission and management of the budget. It will be responsible for all the reporting and it will ensure relevant visibility to the donors providing the grant. HEADQUARTER: Via L. il Moro 6/A - Palazzo Pacinotti Milano 3 City - 20080 Basiglio (MI) - Italy www.alberodellavita.org