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.
Children are more vulnerable than adults as they have less capacity for self-protection and are not fully aware of their rights. This makes them an easy target for various forms of exploitation like child labour or being recruited child soldiers. Girls are also at a disadvantage in some cultures, where traditional beliefs and discrimination result in unequal opportunities for education and subject them to child marriage and early pregnancy.
Key Challenges
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Child Labour In the world’s poorest countries, around 1 in 4 children are engaged in child labour1. |
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Child Trafficking There are approximately 24.9 million victims of human trafficking worldwide. About 20% of them are girls.2 |
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Child Violence Globally, it is estimated that up to 1 billion children aged 2 – 17 have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect in the past year. Around 64% of them are in Asia Pacific. 3 |
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Child Marriage There are 1 in 4 child brides in the world today.4 |
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Child Soldiers In 2017, more than 240 million children around the world were living in countries affected by conflict. Many of them face violence, displacement, hunger and exploitation by armed forces and groups.5 |
1UNICEF, 2017
2ILO, 2016
3WHO, 2018
4UNICEF, 2017
5Child Soldiers International, 2018
How We Help
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
E.g. Celebrating Families Model
- Improving family relationships and helping parents create a loving and caring environment where their children can flourish in all aspects of their well-being
- Reducing harmful attitudes and practices towards child violence and neglect within a family
Protection: Re-integrating rescued victims into their community after they are repatriated, including protecting them from threats, violence, abuse, and helping them recover physically and mentally
E.g. Safe Spaces Model
- Mechanism to protect children from abuse, exploitation or violence
- Means to provide psychosocial support to children, strengthen their emotional well-being, social well-being, and/or skills and knowledge
- Training and mobilising communities around the protection and well-being of children, and strengthening community protection mechanisms and referral system to support children affected by instances of violence
Prosecution: Focusing on areas of law enforcement towards perpetrators
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
Current Children in Crisis projects:
| COUNTRY | PROJECT |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Let Girls Thrive |
| Mongolia | Protect Vulnerable Slum Children |
| Central Africa Republic | Saving Child Soldiers |
Our Impact
In FY17 and FY18, with the support of our donors, these are just some of the ways we were able to help:
