CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
© Alessio Romenzi
As a medical organisation fighting for access to health rights for all, particularly for those in vulnerable situations, we need to address inequalities in access to health rights for those under the age of 18, who are even more vulnerable.
GUARANTEEING ACCESS TO HEALTH RIGHTS FOR MINORS
Whatever the context, we always strive to identify the social determinants of health specific to these groups and we adapt our projects, tools and strategies to their realities.
To respond to their specific needs, we fight so that the rights of the child are recognised. We also strive to build minors’ capacity to be involved in their own health pathway by encouraging their empowerment.
We thus adopt a two-pronged approach to harm reduction and child protection.
THE IMPACT OF MIGRATION ON YOUNG PEOPLE.
Migration involves profound life changes that can be all the more complicated for children and teenagers. In addition, the transition from childhood to adulthood is a difficult period of life for many, and the mental health of the young person can be cruelly impacted when is accompanied by a violent break with their origins, culture and mother tongue.
DEDICATED ACTIVITIES.
Specific activities have been developed to promote the well-being and overall health of unaccompanied minors. Provide health information
- Prevent high-risk behaviours
- Provide information about medical and social services, and the various resources in the city
- Strengthen young people’s psychosocial skills
- Identify psychological suffering
DEALING WITH VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN IN CRISIS SITUATIONS ADOLESCENCE IS SYNONYMOUS WITH RISK.
In humanitarian contexts, minors and girls in particular may be at risk of gender-based violence due to their age and sex. Risk factors are concentrated at certain stages of the life cycle, such as adolescence. Teenage girls are thus more likely to be exposed to sexual violence and forced marriage.
CORRELATION WITH VIOLENCE.
Some risk factors are common to gender-based violence and violence against children. For example, violence against minors and violence against women often intersect within the family. Both types of violence are indeed based on common social norms in which men control women, girls and boys.
