Safeguarding Refugee and Asylum‐seeking Children

Abstract

Child Abuse ReviewVolume 20, Issue 5 p. 307-310 EditorialFree Access Safeguarding Refugee and Asylum-seeking Children First published: 27 September 2011 https://doi.org/10.1002/car.1199Citations: 4 Jane Appleton, Peter Sidebotham. E-mail: jvappleton@brookes.ac.uk, P.Sidebotham@warwick.ac.uk AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Safeguarding refugee and asylum-seeking children is an area of work that presents complex challenges, for practitioners internationally and for researchers aiming to explore how best to meet the needs of children and families in such situations. Children who come to a new country seeking a refuge, whether alone or as members of families, are vulnerable in a number of different ways. They come from situations which are likely to have been more or less traumatic. They may find it difficult to explain this, or to talk about it at all. There are often extensive cultural and language barriers between children and those charged with helping them and safeguarding their welfare. Those who arrive alone are especially vulnerable, and the majority of research and policy attention has been focused on this group. Those who arrive with their families also have needs, which are often not noticed because they do not immediately demand attention in the same way as the needs of unaccompanied children. They may be at risk of ill-treatment in the family, be bullied at school or in the community, or expected to take on heavy responsibilities for other family members. They are also affected by the way in which their families are treated by agencies, in particular how they are housed; the most extreme example being children who are detained with their families because they are deemed undeserving of asylum. ‘There are often extensive cultural and language barriers’ ‘Detained with their families because they are deemed undeserving of asylum’ Mention of detention and refusal reminds us that official policy in this area is not solely concerned with the welfare of refugee and asylum-seeking children. It is also concerned with ensuring that borders are effectively policed, that those who cannot demonstrate entitlement are not allowed to remain and that those claiming services are dealt with according to a variety of rules governing eligibility, based on age and other factors. This policy agenda has consequences for most children and families who seek asylum or refugee status and, for some of them, very serious consequences. We are reminded that safeguarding children can sometimes mean protecting them not only from family members but also from agents of the state. ‘Protecting them not only from family members but also from agents of the state’ These kinds of tensions are reflected in the papers which compose this special issue. All the papers are the product of a conference held at the University of Central Lancashire in England in April 2010, which brought together practitioners, researchers and policymakers from a wide range of institutions and settings in Britain and Ireland. At the conference, it was apparent that many colleagues were exercised by broadly similar issues, whatever the setting in which they worked. These may be summarised as: (i) how to achieve justice and care for some very vulnerable people, in the face of official policies and a popular culture which in serious ways militate against this; (ii) how to promote a rights-based approach to services that recognises refugees and asylum-seekers, including the youngest ones, as citizens with a contribution to make rather than as dependent and supplicant. The papers collected here represent only a small number of the contributions at the conference; at least one further contribution will appear as a paper in a subsequent issue of the journal. All the authors have taken the opportunity to develop their conference contributions substantially. ‘It was apparent that many colleagues were exercised by broadly similar issues’ Ravi Kohli's (2011) paper, developed from his keynote lecture at the conference, considers what safety, belonging and success mean to children and young people who seek asylum alone within richer nations. Arguing that these three elements constitute ‘the foundations of a stable life for all vulnerable children’, he uses this as a frame through which to view what we know about the lives of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and the kinds of services which are helpful to them. Although the search for safety is a dominant feature just after arrival, when children and young people ‘stand at the borders’ of safety and are on their guard, it remains a theme throughout. Kohli looks at what provisions support a sense of safety: a safe place to live; continuities with past relationships and opportunities to create new ones; access to purposeful education and training; and opportunities to move forward and find new purpose. Belonging is associated with many psychosocial processes, but in particular with how young people use their talents and capacities to grow ‘webs of belonging’, and with their use of faith. Distressing experiences can be mitigated by a sense of having a reliable adult companion and a protective network, opportunities to think about what happened to them, a sense of their own agency, and continuity of habits and rituals. Success is often seen in terms of education, where young refugees often do especially well, building resilience in the process. ‘These three elements constitute ‘the foundations of a stable life for all vulnerable children’’ Paul Rigby (2011) also focuses on unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, in particular those who have been trafficked. His article is based on research in Scotland which looked at cases where the presence of certain indicators fitted with a definition of trafficking. Children and young people were not directly contacted, rather the study was based on interviews with professionals. The research showed that 21 per cent of unaccompanied young people known to social workers appeared to have been trafficked and that supporting them presented a number of serious challenges: problems of communication, including language and cultural barriers; problems of identification; trauma and fear; suspicion and mistrust; and ambiguities of definition. The article concludes that the quality of relationship is crucial and that ‘guidelines and toolkits are not a substitute for either a positive relationship with a child, or professionals having a comprehensive understanding of the issues so that children believe workers can actually make a difference’ (p. 000). ‘21 per cent of unaccompanied young people known to social workers appeared to have been trafficked’ ‘The quality of relationship is crucial’ By way of contrast, Pat Cox (2011) looks at the experiences of refugee or asylum-seeking families who have been involved in local authority safeguarding procedures in England. In a study funded by the British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (BASPCAN), she interviewed seven professionals and six parents or carers about their experiences of child protection investigations. Although the formal process of a child protection conference often made families anxious, fearful or alienated (especially if the buildings and facilities used were not suitable), it appeared that what was far more important to families was the existence or otherwise of a supportive relationship with a social worker who was able to spend time with them. It also made a difference when social workers made an effort to understand the importance to families of cultural practices and religious beliefs, and to treat them with respect. ‘A supportive relationship with a social worker who was able to spend time with them’ From the Republic of Ireland, Shirley Martin and colleagues. (2011) consider the implications of the proposal by the Separated Children in Europe Programme that every separated child should be allocated an independent guardian or adviser. Although the Irish Government's National Children's Strategy states that unaccompanied children seeking asylum should be provided with a dedicated social worker and a guardian ad litem, it appears that this only happens in exceptional cases and the role is a narrow one. Their article is based on research in which they interviewed 16 staff of professional agencies who have contact with separated children (including both non-governmental organisations and statutory agencies). There was strong support for a dedicated guardian for separated children and the research identified three important aspects of such a role: the provision of guidance in traversing ‘cracks’ in the current asylum and childcare systems; the need to address the legal issues of migration law; and, beyond the legal, to focus on the needs of separated children in an holistic way. ‘There was strong support for a dedicated guardian for separated children’ The paper by Karen Newbigging and Nigel Thomas (2011) seeks to identify key components of good practice in social care services for safeguarding refugee and asylum-seeking children. It is drawn from a study in England, Wales and Northern Ireland which aimed to identify indicators and examples of good practice in social care for asylum seekers and refugees (both adults and children), using a systematic literature review, focus groups with asylum seekers and refugees and a survey of voluntary and statutory agencies. The paper reflects on the findings as they relate to children (unaccompanied and in families). The authors argue that a rights-based approach and a commitment to the wellbeing of children and young people should underpin and be the primary focus of good practice, rather than the demands of immigration policy. Other components include safe and appropriate accommodation, support for engagement in education and leisure pursuits, attention to emotional wellbeing, good support and information for families, and inclusion of families and communities in the safeguarding agenda. ‘A rights-based approach and a commitment to the wellbeing of children and young people should underpin and be the primary focus’ As Pat Cox (2011) reminds us, migration is one of the central social and political issues of the 21st century. All these papers in their different ways contribute to our understanding of a highly challenging and contested area of practice. In future issues of Child Abuse Review, we hope that colleagues will return to the questions addressed in the papers presented here and, more generally to issues of safeguarding refugee and migrant children, inside and outside their families. They deserve nothing less than our serious attention. ‘They deserve nothing less than our serious attention.’ References Cox P. 2011. Issues in safeguarding refugee and asylum-seeking children and young people: research and practice. Child Abuse Review 20: 341– 360. DOI: 10.1002/car.1200 Wiley Online LibraryWeb of Science®Google Scholar Kohli RKS. 2011. Working to Ensure Safety, Belonging and Success for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children. Child Abuse Review 20: 311– 323. DOI: 10.1002/car.1182 Wiley Online LibraryWeb of Science®Google Scholar Martin S, Christie A, Horgan D, O'Riordan J. 2011. ‘Often They Fall Through the Cracks’: Separated Children in Ireland and the Role of Guardians. Child Abuse Review 20: 361– 373. DOI: 10.1002/car.1183 Wiley Online LibraryWeb of Science®Google Scholar Newbigging K, Thomas N. 2011. Good Practice in Social Care for Refugee and Asylum-seeking Children. Child Abuse Review 20: 374– 390. DOI: 10.1002/car.1178. Wiley Online LibraryWeb of Science®Google Scholar Rigby P. 2011. Separated and Trafficked Children: The Challenges for Child Protection Professionals. Child Abuse Review 20: 324– 340. DOI: 10.1002/car.1193 Wiley Online LibraryWeb of Science®Google Scholar Citing Literature Volume20, Issue5Special Issue: Themed issue on Safeguarding Refugee and Asylum-Seeking ChildrenSeptember/October 2011Pages 307-310 ReferencesRelatedInformation