“Street Children:

““Street Children:Street Children:

The phenomenon, Current Trends & The phenomenon, Current Trends & implications For Their Rightsimplications For Their Rights

4th Civil Society Organization Forum on the African Charter on the 4th Civil Society Organization Forum on the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the ChildRights and Welfare of the Child

1818thth March 2011 March 2011

Addis AbabaAddis Ababa

1UNICEF Liaison Office to the AU and UNECA Akila Belembaogo

““Street Children”Street Children”

Definition:Definition:““A street child means a child who A street child means a child who (a)(a) because of abuse, neglect, because of abuse, neglect,

poverty, community upheaval or any other reason, has left his poverty, community upheaval or any other reason, has left his or her home family or community and lives, begs or works on or her home family or community and lives, begs or works on the streets; or the streets; or (b)(b) because of inadequate care, begs or works because of inadequate care, begs or works on the streets but returns home after night”on the streets but returns home after night” (The Children’s Act of 2005, Number 38 of South Africa )

No Child belongs to a street but to a No Child belongs to a street but to a family family


Categories of “Street Children”Categories of “Street Children” • Children at riskChildren at risk – children of the urban poor – children of the urban poor

• Children living on the streetsChildren living on the streets – children for – children for whom the street is the main living placewhom the street is the main living place

• Children working on the streetsChildren working on the streets – children who – children who come to the streets to work in order to come to the streets to work in order to supplement family incomesupplement family income


Reason for Coming to the StreetsReason for Coming to the Streets • PovertyPoverty

• Rapid urbanization and industrialization associated Rapid urbanization and industrialization associated with the collapse of rural economywith the collapse of rural economy

• Structures that leave children unprotectedStructures that leave children unprotected

• Wrong perception that life in a big city would be easy Wrong perception that life in a big city would be easy and funand fun

• Other social, economic and political crisis such as Other social, economic and political crisis such as epidemics, military and ethnic conflicts, refugee epidemics, military and ethnic conflicts, refugee movements and etc.movements and etc.


TrendsTrends

• The phenomenon of children living and workingThe phenomenon of children living and working on the streets is a worldwide problemon the streets is a worldwide problem

• Getting accurate statistical data for “street children” is Getting accurate statistical data for “street children” is difficult given the hidden and isolated nature of life they difficult given the hidden and isolated nature of life they leadlead

• It is estimated that there are about 100 million “street It is estimated that there are about 100 million “street children” around the world. The figure reaches 150 children” around the world. The figure reaches 150 million in some studies million in some studies

• UNICEF estimated the figure to be around tens of UNICEF estimated the figure to be around tens of millions in 2005millions in 2005


TrendsTrends

• There are studies that estimated about 32 million There are studies that estimated about 32 million children live on the streets in Africachildren live on the streets in Africa

Statistic in some selected cities in Africa:Statistic in some selected cities in Africa:

• Government estimates Government estimates 150,000150,000 children live on the streets children live on the streets in Ethiopia and around in Ethiopia and around 60,00060,000 in Addis Ababa in Addis Ababa

– NGOs estimate that the problem is far worse as nearly NGOs estimate that the problem is far worse as nearly 600,000 600,000 street children in Ethiopia and street children in Ethiopia and 100,000100,000 of these in Addis of these in Addis

– Around 1 million children are believed to be on the streets Around 1 million children are believed to be on the streets of Egypt, most in Cairo and Alexandria of Egypt, most in Cairo and Alexandria


Trends…ctd.Trends…ctd.

Statistics in Africa…ctd.Statistics in Africa…ctd.

• Around In Around In 250,000-300,000 250,000-300,000 children live and work on the streets children live and work on the streets across Kenya with more than 60,000 of them in Nairobiacross Kenya with more than 60,000 of them in Nairobi

• In Ghana, around In Ghana, around 21,14021,140 street children, street children, 6,0006,000 street babies, street babies, 7,1707,170 street mothers street mothers under the age of 20under the age of 20 are estimated to live on the are estimated to live on the streets of Accrastreets of Accra

• There are an estimated There are an estimated 10– 12,00010– 12,000 homeless children in South Africa homeless children in South Africa

• Approximately Approximately 110 infants110 infants were abandoned on the streets of were abandoned on the streets of

Khartoum, Sudan, in 2003, every month, with Khartoum, Sudan, in 2003, every month, with 50%50% dying within hours dying within hours


Trends…ctd.Trends…ctd.• The number of “street children” is increasing overThe number of “street children” is increasing over

the years. the years. Between 1991 and 1994Between 1991 and 1994– In Zambia doubled from In Zambia doubled from 35,00035,000 to to 70,00070,000 – In Nairobi increased from In Nairobi increased from 4,5004,500 to to 30,00030,000

• ““Street children” are increasing in Sub-Saharan cities, mostly Street children” are increasing in Sub-Saharan cities, mostly because of HIV/AIDS. For example:because of HIV/AIDS. For example:– In Brazzaville, Congo, almost half of the street children are In Brazzaville, Congo, almost half of the street children are

orphansorphans– In Lusaka, Zambia, the majority of children living on the street In Lusaka, Zambia, the majority of children living on the street

are orphansare orphans

• The majority of “street children” belong to the age category of 10 The majority of “street children” belong to the age category of 10

to14 but there are studies that show the age ranges from a low of to14 but there are studies that show the age ranges from a low of 6 years to a high of17 years6 years to a high of17 years


Trends…ctd.Trends…ctd.• The age at which children start living & working The age at which children start living & working

on the streets is decreasing because of the on the streets is decreasing because of the increasing number of OVCsincreasing number of OVCs

• Higher incidence of “street boys” than girls. Major reasons: Higher incidence of “street boys” than girls. Major reasons: – parental fears regarding the dangers of street life for femalesparental fears regarding the dangers of street life for females

– girls are perceived to be more fitting for indoor activities such as girls are perceived to be more fitting for indoor activities such as household chores, child minding and working as maids in bars household chores, child minding and working as maids in bars and back street hotelsand back street hotels

– girls are more likely to get involved in commercial sex workgirls are more likely to get involved in commercial sex work

• A study conducted in Eastern and Southern Africa in 1999 in 65 A study conducted in Eastern and Southern Africa in 1999 in 65 towns and cities found that 74% were boys and 26% were girlstowns and cities found that 74% were boys and 26% were girls


Effects & Implications on RightsEffects & Implications on Rights

• Often viewed as a threat to the societyOften viewed as a threat to the society– Right to non-discrimination. (Article 3 in the ACRWC) Right to non-discrimination. (Article 3 in the ACRWC) – Right to protection against harmful social and cultural practices Right to protection against harmful social and cultural practices

(Article 21 in the ACRWC)(Article 21 in the ACRWC)– Right to protection from sale, trafficking and abduction. Right to protection from sale, trafficking and abduction.

• Suffer from violence and abuse Suffer from violence and abuse – Right to protection against child abuse and torture (Article 16 of Right to protection against child abuse and torture (Article 16 of

the ACRWC)the ACRWC)– Right to protection and privacy (Article 10 of the ACRWC)Right to protection and privacy (Article 10 of the ACRWC)– Right to protection from involvement in armed conflicts (Article Right to protection from involvement in armed conflicts (Article

22 of the ACRWC)22 of the ACRWC)


Effects & Implications…ctd.Effects & Implications…ctd.

• Face health problems, are malnourished, vulnerable to traffic Face health problems, are malnourished, vulnerable to traffic accidents and have difficulties of accessing medical servicesaccidents and have difficulties of accessing medical services– Right to health and health services (Article 14 of the ACRWC)Right to health and health services (Article 14 of the ACRWC)– Right to survival and development (Article 5 of the ACRWC)Right to survival and development (Article 5 of the ACRWC)– Right to parental care and protection (Article 18 of the ACRWC)Right to parental care and protection (Article 18 of the ACRWC)

• Vulnerable to substance useVulnerable to substance use– Right to protection from drug abuse (Article 28 of the ACRWC)Right to protection from drug abuse (Article 28 of the ACRWC)– Right to parental care and protection (Article 18 of the ACRWCRight to parental care and protection (Article 18 of the ACRWC



• At a higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections At a higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections including HIV including HIV – Right to protection from all forms of sexual exploitation (Article Right to protection from all forms of sexual exploitation (Article

27 of the ACRWC) 27 of the ACRWC) – Right to health and health services (Article 14 of the ACRWC), Right to health and health services (Article 14 of the ACRWC), – Right to survival and development (Article 5 of the ACRWC)Right to survival and development (Article 5 of the ACRWC)

• Loss of an adult care giver relationship, Loss of an adult care giver relationship, parental affection and opportunities for growthparental affection and opportunities for growth– Right to survival and development (Article 5 of the ACRWC)Right to survival and development (Article 5 of the ACRWC)– Rights to protection from separation from parents (Article 25 of Rights to protection from separation from parents (Article 25 of

the ACRWC) the ACRWC)



• Find it difficult to go to schoolFind it difficult to go to school– Right to education (Article 11 of the ACRWC) and Right to education (Article 11 of the ACRWC) and – Right protection from child labour (Article 15 of the ACRWC)Right protection from child labour (Article 15 of the ACRWC)

• Mistreated by the law enforcing bodiesMistreated by the law enforcing bodies– Rights to administration of juvenile justice (Article 17 of the Rights to administration of juvenile justice (Article 17 of the

ACRWC)ACRWC)– Right to protection against child abuse and torture (Article 16 of Right to protection against child abuse and torture (Article 16 of

the ACRWC)the ACRWC)


What needs to be done?What needs to be done?• Advocate for the Advocate for the ratificationratification, , popularization,popularization, implementation implementation of of

and reporting on the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of and reporting on the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Childthe Child

• Use all opportunities to advocate and lobby for the children and Use all opportunities to advocate and lobby for the children and make their voices heard. make their voices heard. Day of the African ChildDay of the African Child – this year, the – this year, the main theme is “All Together for Urgent Action in Favor of Street main theme is “All Together for Urgent Action in Favor of Street Children”Children”

• Intentionally target children living and working on the street as Intentionally target children living and working on the street as participantsparticipants, b, beneficiaries eneficiaries and and owners owners of programmesof programmes

. Promote cross-sector programmes to address the . Promote cross-sector programmes to address the

underlying causes (child friendly schools, non formal underlying causes (child friendly schools, non formal

Education, vocational training, access to employment Education, vocational training, access to employment

market with protective measures (ILO Conventions)market with protective measures (ILO Conventions)

. Promote national social protection policy (AU social protection

framework).14UNICEF Liaison Office to the AU

and UNECA Akila Belembaogo

Thank You!Thank You!


“Street Children:

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