Evidence Aid Newletter: 25 July 2024
You can view the PDF version of this newsletter here: Evidence Aid July 2024 Newsletter
Welcome to Evidence Aid’s July 2024 newsletter,
Next Tuesday, July 30th 2024, is UN World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. According to the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (GLOTIP) by the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes, one in three trafficked persons is a child, and children are twice as likely to face violence during trafficking than adults. Thus, this year’s theme is “Leave no Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking”.
Different forms of child trafficking include forced labour, crime, begging, illegal adoption, sexual abuse and online exploitation. The causes of trafficking are various—the vulnerability of children is often amplified due to poverty, armed conflicts, lack of parental care, and migration/displacement which results in many minors being unaccompanied by adults—all of which subject children to the risk of trafficking and exploitation. Consequently, in this month’s newsletter we highlight three Evidence Aid summaries that focus on the vulnerability of children and adolescents.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Blue Heart Campaign is an initiative to raise awareness for the victims of human trafficking. The blue heart, which is a symbol of the cold-heartedness of traffickers, represents solidarity with human trafficking victims and demonstrates the UN’s commitment to fighting this crisis.
Related Evidence Aid summaries
Child abuse in conflicts and disasters caused by natural hazards
The authors of this review found that children 18 years and younger were commonly exposed to abuse in times of disaster. While girls were subject to more sexual violence after conflicts, boys were more likely to be physically abused after natural disasters. The authors stated that there is a need to train emergency response workers in child protection and that child protection policies should be strengthened at the national level and ensure minimum standards for emergency relief sectors like food, health, and shelter.
Citation: Seddighi H, Salmani I, Javadi MH, et al. Child abuse in natural disasters and conflicts: a systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. 2021;22(1):176–85.
Sexual and reproductive health experiences of separated young people on the move
The authors of this review found that separated young migrants are at greater risk due to structural violence and marginalisation. These key themes described vulnerability to violence and exploitation, poor knowledge of sexual health, unmet service needs, stigma that prevented separated children and young people from seeking help, and poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes. The authors stated that the unique sexual and reproductive health needs of separated young people should be met.
Citation: Mason-Jones AJ, Nicholson P. Structural violence and marginalisation. The sexual and reproductive health experiences of separated young people on the move. A rapid review with relevance to the European humanitarian crisis. Public Health. 2018;1(158):156-62.
The authors of this review found that parental migration is detrimental to the health of left-behind children and adolescents in LMICs and found that they had an increased risk of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, wasting and stunting. The authors stated that this issue should be highlighted to policy makers and healthcare professionals in order to improve the health of this population
Citation: Fellmeth G, Rose-Clarke K, Zhao C, et al. Health impacts of parental migration on left-behind children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2018;392(10164):2567-82.
Additional information
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Thank you for your support and continued reading!
From,
Your Evidence Aid team