On International Day for Street Children, the world’s largest street children’s rights network is calling for global action to tackle the appalling conditions facing tens of millions of children face on streets around the world.
Consortium for Street Children, which was set up by Sir John Major 25 years ago and regularly works with international partners including the UN, international law firm Baker McKenzie and major universities, is urging governments to implement the steps laid down by the United Nations last year to finally begin to address this growing injustice.
A global consultation in several languages with more than a thousand street children from forty different countries, was carried out by Consortium for Street Children to inform the United Nations’ strongest statement since the Convention on Children’s Rights.
It unearthed some horrifying testimony about the conditions being faced each and every day by street-connected children, including:
- “The authorities drive us away and call us animals – they say we deserve to be imprisoned because we live on the street.”
- “If I don’t go to work in the night as a sex worker I will not get money for food.”
- “We are rejected by society; they say people living on the streets are a cancer to society.”
- “If you are sent to a shelter, you’re supposed to be there to be better off, but if someone other than your Dad will beat you up, then you’d better stay home.”
- “Every government should have a special law for street children to give them a chance to use their gifts and talents to achieve their dreams.”
Summer 2018 will mark a year on from the United Nations issued its call – and only one government thus far, the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, has heeded its call to recognize its obligations to vulnerable children living, working and dying on the street.
Consortium for Street Children believes that a commitment to the four steps below will results in governments tackling inequality for street children:
- Committing to equality – recognise and legislate so that street children have the same rights as everyone else
- Protecting every child – protect street children from violence and abuse – facilitating their access to justice (and empowering them to access it) when they are harmed
- Providing access to services – enable access to essential services such as hospitals and schools
- Creating new solutions- deliver specialised services to tackle the issues affecting street children
Former Prime Minister Sir John Major, the founder of Consortium for Street Children said:
“All children deserve care – not just some of them. They deserve a home, a family, security, education, adult guidance and – above all – love and affection. And yet – although we cannot be precise as to numbers – it is likely that 150 million children enjoy none of these benefits.
“When children are not cared for – we have all let them down. By we – I mean governments and individuals. It is – to me – extraordinary that they have been left so far behind for so long. Extraordinary – and indefensible. It is as if they are invisible to the conscience of the world.
“Declarations don’t house the homeless or feed the hungry. But it most definitely marks the beginning of what we hope will bring about the end of this truly terrible – and unacceptable – human neglect. So we all need to make sure the General Comment is implemented fully.”
Caroline Ford, Chief Executive of Consortium for Street Children added:
“Some say that the situation facing street children is insurmountable. We today launch our Four Steps to Equality which tells governments in clear terms the steps they must immediately take. I believe they can do it – and when they do, it will change everything for the street children who need their government’s protection.”
Pamella Bisson, a former street child in Brazil who is now a successful entrepreneur and athlete said:
“If I’d stayed in Brazil living on the street as I did when I was a little girl, I’d either be having sex with strangers in order to eat and survive, or I’d be dead. It’s that simple.
“I won the lottery of life and was raised in the UK because my mother fell in love with, and married, a British man, but few are so fortunate. We need people to realise how pressing and desperate the situation is for street children and how little meaningful action is being taken by the powerful to make a difference and shorten the odds for the most destitute and vulnerable kids who face the unthinkable every day.”
Alan Straton
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