Children at high risk of human trafficking: participation in the decision-making process Vladlena Avdeeva

Children at high risk of human trafficking: participation in the decision-making process

Vladlena Avdeeva

Project manager

Regional Public Organization “Stellit”

(Saint Petersburg)

Children victims of trafficking

• According to UNICEF data, approximately 28% of identified victims of human trafficking are children.
• In 2016 40 million people were victims of human trafficking, 10 million of them are children (according to the report of International Labor Organization and Walk Free Foundation).
• Refugee, migrant and displaced children are especially vulnerable to trafficking.
• Latent crime – the number of child trafficking victims is higher than data presented in official statistics.

Child participation in decision-making

• Child participation is an ongoing process of children’s expression and active involvement in decision making at different levels in matters that concern them. (UNICEF: Child Participation).
• It requires information sharing and dialogue between children and adults based on mutual respect.
• Child participation is one of the CRC’s four guiding principles alongside with non-discrimination; the best interests of the child; and life, survival and development.

Legislative basis for child participation

• Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 12

«States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child».

• National Strategy on Action for Children for 2012—2017. Section VII. Children as participants of the implementation of the National Strategy.
• The Decade of Childhood (2018-2027)

Achieving goals of the National Strategy on Action for Children

• There is no standard monitoring of child participation in decision making process, which does not allow to conduct a quantitative assessment and comparative regional analysis of this participation.
• According to qualitative assessment allows us to conclude that the expected results of the implementation of this part of the National Strategy and the principle of child participation in decision-making affecting their interests were achieved only partially.