Children in Crisis
The Needs
Children in Crisis are boys and girls affected by street life, sexual exploitation, hazardous labour, gender inequality, disability, or lack of a primary caregiver.
Facing extraordinary hardships, they are desperate for ways out of poverty. This makes them very vulnerable to dangers disguised as opportunities. Unscrupulous employers or middle men are out to trick them into child marriage or engage them as child labourers without fair pay. Children are more vulnerable than adults as they have less capacity for self-protection and are not fully aware of their rights. Girls are also at a disadvantage in some cultures, having fewer opportunities for education or being subject to child marriage and early pregnancy.
Key Challenges
 |
Trafficking An estimated 1.2 million children are being trafficked each year*. Girls and boys have been tricked into bonded labour, militarism, global sex trade and more. And these children are often helpless because of poverty, organised crime, lack of education and even corrupt system. |
 |
Sexual Exploitation Impoverished girls from rural areas are constantly sold or stolen to serve as sex slaves in brothels. Especially in poor communities, young girls are regarded as commodities, where families can get some income from selling them. |
 |
Young Soldiers There are about 250,000 child soldiers actively serving in armies and rebel groups around the world**. |
 |
Bonded Labour Almost 200 million children are currently involved in child labour***. Subject to harsh environments, minimal or no pay, and under threat of violence, these children had once hoped that the work they sought would support and protect their livelihood. However, that is seldom the case. Lack of proper contracts, falsified identity papers and corrupt systems allow the employer to exploit the child. |
*International Labor Organization, 2002
**UN Special Representative on Child Soldiers
***UN Children’s Fund
Our Impact
World Vision’s strategy encompasses what is known as the 4Ps approach:
- Prevention: Reducing vulnerability through education in communities, and providing shelter and care for the victims
- Protection: Re-integrating rescued victims into their community after they are repatriated, including protecting them from threats, violence, abuse, and providing physical and psychological care
- Prosecution: Focusing on areas of law enforcement towards human trafficking profiteers
- Policy: Holding the other 3Ps together, national policies are influenced by a country’s international obligations, national legislation, bilateral agreements, and most importantly, public opinion and lobbying
In FY16, with the support of our donors, we were able to help in these ways:
Latest reports on Children in Crisis projects:
| COUNTRY | PROJECT |
|---|---|
| Cambodia | Street Children Transformation Project |
| India | Adolescent Girls as Agents of Change |
| Thailand | Church-School-Community-Network |
| Vietnam | Exiting Exploitation |
