Child trafficking – prevention and rehabilitation

CHILD TRAFFICKING –CHILD TRAFFICKING –
ISSUES OF PSYCHO-SOCIALISSUES OF PSYCHO-SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT
Dr. R. Shivappa, University of MysoreDr. R. Shivappa, University of Mysore

Over hundred million children all over the
world are struggling for survival. They
have been left to streets and they are in
terrible danger of violence, sexual
exploitation, forced labour, drugs, hunger,
solitude, contempt, and disease.

Every child has the right to a family
The child should grow up in a family
environment and in an atmosphere of happiness,
love and understanding.
Children who do not have families/ no one to
care them or children who do not go to school
are potential victims of neglect, abuse and
exploitation.

CHILDHOOD PERSONALITY IS A FUNCTION OF
PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS
A Overprotective relationships :
 Parents view the child as relatively helpless and
unable to meet the stresses of the world without a
great deal of help and protection.
 Parents tend to do things for the child that he could
do for himself.

 Discipline is avoided as much as possible
a) Parents likely to give in to child’s demands in
order to avoid trouble.
b) Parents likely to tolerate a great deal of difficult
behavior from the child.
 Personality Correlates : Child likely to become either
a) Immature, dependent and helpless
b) Demanding, attention-seeking, and spoiled.

B Autocratic relationships
 Parents view the child as full of potential badness
that
must be vigorously suppressed.
 Parents expect conformance to adult standards of
behaviour.
 Discipline likely to be harsh.
a) Physical
b) Isolation
c) Verbal criticisms

 Conforming, submissive, shy and fearful
Rebellious
 a) Active : Stubborn, Negative
 b) Passive : Lazy, forgetful

C Cooperative relationships
 Parents view child as able to learn and to mature.
 They expect and accept behaviour that is
characteristic
of the child’s developmental stage.
 Discipline is flexible
a) Teaching by setting a good example.
b) Willingness to discuss and explain the reasons
for
decisions.

c) Rewards in the form of praise for good behaviour. d)
Firm limits in the relatively few areas the parents
consider unusually important.
 Personality Correlates : This relationship pattern
appears to favour optimum development of
personality.

THE INDICATORS OF HIGH-RISK FAMILIES
 Families in conflict due to alcoholism, drug abuse,
illicit relationships.
 Families showing discrimination between children.
 Families facing financial backwardness.
 Families who are unaware of the rights of a child to
care and protection.
 Families in which children are abused.
 Families with one or both parents chronically ill.
 HIV-infected families.
 Divorced families.
 Families facing sudden deaths of parents.
 Families of physical and mentally challenged
parents
or close relatives.
 Parents having extra marital relationships.

Some of the policies have contributed to overall
marginalisation of the vast majority of people and
particularly the children.
a) The withdrawal of state from its obligations and
commitments to the social sector i.e., health,
education and a reduced allocation of the PDS has
been accompanied by increased privatization in
all
spheres, specifically in the area of health and
education.
b) The macro policies followed in industry have led
to
increased unemployment.
c) The massive increase in migration and overall
sense of insecurity have affected children and
indeed children have become more vulnerable

Some of the categories of children who need
immediate service are those listed under children in
especially in difficult circumstances:
 Orphans
 Street Children
 Beggar Children
 Migrant Children
 Children affected by man-made and natural
disaster.
 Drug addicts
 Children of Nomads
 Refugee Children
 Children in Slums

 Children of Commercial Sex Workers
 Children of Prisoners
 Children affected by armed conflict
 Displaced Children
 Evicted Children
 Young-children in-charges of children
 Child Labour
 Children Under Juvenile Justice System (Children
in need of care and protection and children in
conflict with law).

EFFECTS ON CHILDREN’S LIVES
Neglect, abuse and commercial exploitation in
childhood can lead to the following problems.
a) Loss of self-respect and dignity, making them
submissive, and tolerant to more abuse and
exploitation.
b) Problems with mental and emotional health, and
social relationships.
c) Problems with physical health and development.
d) Disruption of education, recreation and cultural
life.

Children in exploitative situations may face the
following (amounting to loss of childhood)
a) Homelessness
b) Separation from family and social supports of
friends, relatives and neighbors.
c) Death, among girls and boys due to sexual
abuse
and exploitation, physical abuse, infection of
HIV/AIDS or other STDs and in case of girls
due
to teenage pregnancy.
d) The chances of children being pushed into
crime.

As of now, rescue and institutional care are provided to
abused and exploited children through child-line and the
Juvenile Justice System.
However, rescues do more harm than good when
rehabilitation strategies are weak.
The present system makes a little provision for psycho-
social intervention to treat the effects of abuse and
exploitation on children’s mental health.

EFFORTS FOR REHABILITATING CHILDREN
THROUGH
     Non-formal education
     Entry / re-entry into school
     Recreation and cultural life
     Vocational training and guidance
                           …….are inadequate

   The reunification of the child with the natural family
is not a priority. Reunification of the child with the
family is not possible, as rehabilitation of the natural
families is not carried out.

The result is ……relapse of abuse and exploitation
   Movement from abuse to exploitation or from one
       type of exploitation to another.
    Conflict with the law
    The chances of first-time offenders becoming
        chronic delinquents.
    Survivors of abuse growing up to be likely
abusers
        themselves.

AVOID INSTITUTIONALIZATION AS FAR AS
POSSIBLE
a)     Every child has the right to a family.
b)     Institutionalization is a symptom of family
        malfunctioning.
c)     Families in crisis need urgent intervention.
d)      Families need to be strengthened and enabled for
care
        of their children.
e)     Other children in the family also need appropriate
         services.
f)      In the absence of a biological family, substitute
         family needs to be provided.

PUNISHMENT FOR OFFENDERS
   There should be stringent punishment for child abusers,
traffickers and exploiters.

   UNICEF (2004) recommends ….
   a)   All forms of abuse and exploitation of children
         should be punishable by sentences that reflect the
         gravity of these offences.
   b)   Neither filing of a complaint nor prosecution of an
          offence should require the permission of the
          parents of the victim.

c) Media should respect the privacy and the best
interests of the child victims, avoid reporting that may prejudice
the right of the offender to a fair trail and thus prevent
prosecution and avoid reporting that explicitly or implicitly
attributes blame to the victim.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF CHILDREN ON
CHILD TRAFFICKING
Children felt that those children who are in difficult
circumstances are easy targets for traffickers.  They suggested
following measures to check illegal trafficking of children.

       a)  Children should voice their protection against
            abuse.
       b)  Victimized children should be able to take help
            from the police.
       c)  There should be more help-lines.  Every area should
            have a help-line.

A fifteen-year old girl said …..
“If we say children are our future
Let us ensure that they have future”

THANK YOU
~*~*~*~*~*~
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CHILD TRAFFICKING –CHILD TRAFFICKING –
PREVENTION ANDPREVENTION AND
REHABILITATIONREHABILITATION

CHILD TRAFFICKING –
ISSUES OF PSYCHO-SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENT

CHILDHOOD PERSONALITY IS A FUNCTION OF
PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS

A Overprotective relationships :

     Parents view the child as relatively helpless and
       unable to meet the stresses of the world without a
       great deal of help and protection.
    Parents tend to do things for the child that he could
       do for himself.

    Discipline is avoided as much as possible
        a)   Parents likely to give in to child’s demands in
              order to avoid trouble.
        b)  Parents likely to tolerate a great deal of difficult
              behavior from the child.
        a)  Immature, dependent and helpless
        b)  Demanding, attention-seeking, and spoiled.

B Autocratic relationships

    Parents view the child as full of potential badness
that
        must be vigorously suppressed.
    Parents expect conformance to adult standards of
        behaviour.
     Discipline likely to be harsh.
        a)  Physical
        b)  Isolation
        c)  Verbal criticisms

    Conforming, submissive, shy and fearful
Rebellious
           a)  Active : Stubborn, Negative
           b)  Passive : Lazy, forgetful

C Cooperative relationships

 Parents view child as able to learn and to mature.
 They expect and accept behaviour that is
characteristic
        of the child’s developmental stage.
 Discipline is flexible
          a)  Teaching by setting a good example.
          b)  Willingness to discuss and explain the reasons
for
               decisions.

c)  Rewards in the form of praise for good behaviour. d)
Firm limits in the relatively few areas the parents
consider unusually important.
 Personality Correlates : This relationship pattern
        appears to favour optimum development of
        personality.

THE INDICATORS OF HIGH-RISK FAMILIES
  Families in conflict due to alcoholism, drug abuse,
      illicit relationships.
 Families showing discrimination between children.
 Families facing financial backwardness.
  Families who are unaware of the rights of a child to
     care and protection.
 Families in which children are abused.
 Families with one or both parents chronically ill.
 HIV-infected families.
 Divorced families.
 Families facing sudden deaths of parents.
   Families of physical and mentally challenged
parents
     or close relatives.
 Parents having extra marital relationships.

Some of the policies have contributed to overall
marginalisation of the vast majority of people and
particularly the children.

   a)    The withdrawal of state from its obligations and
          commitments to the social sector i.e., health,
          education and a reduced allocation of the PDS has
          been accompanied by increased privatization in
all
          spheres, specifically in the area of health and
          education.
   b)    The macro policies followed in industry have led
to
          increased unemployment.
   c)    The massive increase in migration and overall
          sense of insecurity have affected children and
          indeed children have become more vulnerable

Some of the categories of children who need
immediate service are those listed under children in
especially in difficult circumstances:

     Orphans
     Street Children
     Beggar Children
     Migrant Children
     Children affected by man-made and natural
             disaster.
     Drug addicts
     Children of Nomads
     Refugee Children
         Children in Slums

     Children of Commercial Sex Workers
     Children of Prisoners
     Children affected by armed conflict
     Displaced Children
     Evicted Children
     Young-children in-charges of children
     Child Labour
     Children Under Juvenile Justice System (Children
             in need of care and protection and children in
             conflict with law).

EFFECTS ON CHILDREN’S LIVES

Neglect, abuse and commercial exploitation in
childhood can lead to the following problems.

      a)  Loss of self-respect and dignity, making them
           submissive, and tolerant to more abuse and
           exploitation.
     b)   Problems with mental and emotional health, and
           social relationships.
     c)   Problems with physical health and development.
     d)  Disruption of education, recreation and cultural
life.

Children in exploitative situations may face the
following (amounting to loss of childhood)

     a)    Homelessness
     b)    Separation from family and social supports of
            friends, relatives and neighbors.
c)    Death, among girls and boys due to sexual
abuse
            and exploitation, physical abuse, infection of
            HIV/AIDS or other STDs and in case of girls
due
            to teenage pregnancy.
     d)   The chances of children being pushed into
crime.

As of now, rescue and institutional care are provided to
abused and exploited children through child-line and the
Juvenile Justice System.

However, rescues do more harm than good when
rehabilitation strategies are weak.

The present system makes a little provision for psycho-
social intervention to treat the effects of abuse and
exploitation on children’s mental health.

THANK YOU
~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~

IntroductionIntroduction
Children are the future of nationChildren are the future of nation
They are considered to be an asset.They are considered to be an asset.
Childhood experiences, both positive andChildhood experiences, both positive and
negative - are important.negative - are important.
Child trafficking is one of the evils of theChild trafficking is one of the evils of the
country.country.
It is an obstacle to overall NationalIt is an obstacle to overall National
development.development.

CausesCauses
Wide and varied.Wide and varied.
Poor family background.Poor family background.
Selling of children, especially girls, forSelling of children, especially girls, for
monetary gains.monetary gains.
Tempting children and their parents withTempting children and their parents with
money.money.

ImpactImpact
Alien place and unknown language.Alien place and unknown language.
Cruel treatment of trafficked children.Cruel treatment of trafficked children.
Sexual harassments.Sexual harassments.
Severe psychological impact.Severe psychological impact.
Disturbed physical growth.Disturbed physical growth.
Health and mental health problems.Health and mental health problems.
Improper socialization.Improper socialization.

Preventive measuresPreventive measures
 Can be carried out predominantly at theCan be carried out predominantly at the
following levelsfollowing levels
1.1. CommunityCommunity
2.2. FamilyFamily
3.3. PolicePolice
4.4. Teaching and health care workers.Teaching and health care workers.

Prevention at community levelPrevention at community level
 Train community people to keep a track of theTrain community people to keep a track of the
entry, movement and exit of strangers.entry, movement and exit of strangers.
 Involve local self government in training the localInvolve local self government in training the local
bodies like Self Help Groups (SHGs) about thebodies like Self Help Groups (SHGs) about the
precautions to be taken in child rearing.precautions to be taken in child rearing.
 Motivate people to do away with the culturalMotivate people to do away with the cultural
practices that encourage trafficking eitherpractices that encourage trafficking either
directly or indirectly.directly or indirectly.

Prevention at family levelPrevention at family level
Encourage parents to care for theirEncourage parents to care for their
children adequately and properly.children adequately and properly.
Alert parents about fake marriages.Alert parents about fake marriages.
Ensure the security of children, especiallyEnsure the security of children, especially
girls, who are put to boarding/residentialgirls, who are put to boarding/residential
schools or to the hostels outside theschools or to the hostels outside the
family.family.
Empower children to protect themselves.Empower children to protect themselves.

Prevention at the police levelPrevention at the police level
Be vigilant in locations prone to trafficking.Be vigilant in locations prone to trafficking.
Monitor the behaviour of the suspects andMonitor the behaviour of the suspects and
strangers.strangers.
Have interaction with the communityHave interaction with the community
people to keep track of the security needspeople to keep track of the security needs
of the community.of the community.

Prevention at the level of teachersPrevention at the level of teachers
and health care workersand health care workers
Teachers and health care workers beTeachers and health care workers be
vigilant and keep the parents updatedvigilant and keep the parents updated
about the suspicious behaviour of theabout the suspicious behaviour of the
child or the child’s association withchild or the child’s association with
strangers.strangers.
Educate the children and the communityEducate the children and the community
people about the needs and the measurespeople about the needs and the measures
to protect themselves.to protect themselves.

Rehabilitative measuresRehabilitative measures
Rehabilitation of the trafficked child is aRehabilitation of the trafficked child is a
very crucial factor.very crucial factor.
Rehabilitation is more important thanRehabilitation is more important than
rescue.rescue.
It can be done mainly at the followingIt can be done mainly at the following
levels:levels:
FamilyFamily
CommunityCommunity
Police.Police.

Rehabilitation at the family levelRehabilitation at the family level
 Significant in reintegration of the child to theSignificant in reintegration of the child to the
mainstream.mainstream.
 Parents must learn to accept the trafficked childParents must learn to accept the trafficked child
after rescue.after rescue.
 Support and cooperation with the child to getSupport and cooperation with the child to get
back to normalcy.back to normalcy.
 Avoid hostility and over protective attitude.Avoid hostility and over protective attitude.
 Help child to overcome the odd behaviourHelp child to overcome the odd behaviour
gradually.gradually.

Rehabilitation at the community levelRehabilitation at the community level
Vital in reintegrating the child to theVital in reintegrating the child to the
community in case of homeless childrencommunity in case of homeless children
Provide possible parental care andProvide possible parental care and
security.security.
Provide opportunities for child to lead aProvide opportunities for child to lead a
decent life.decent life.

Rehabilitation at the police levelRehabilitation at the police level
Can play a major role in prosecuting theCan play a major role in prosecuting the
traffickers thereby ensuring the legal rightstraffickers thereby ensuring the legal rights
of the child.of the child.
Also aid the child in availing its rights forAlso aid the child in availing its rights for
education, livelihood and a decent living.education, livelihood and a decent living.

ConclusionConclusion
Though rehabilitation cannot beThough rehabilitation cannot be
neglected, prevention should be the mainneglected, prevention should be the main
focus.focus.
Important to have a networking of theImportant to have a networking of the
police, NGOs, SHGs and the communitypolice, NGOs, SHGs and the community
at large to combat the problem.at large to combat the problem.
Role of Social Workers cannot beRole of Social Workers cannot be
undermined.undermined.

Child trafficking – prevention and rehabilitation

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Child trafficking – prevention and rehabilitation