Written evidence submitted by the Consortium for Street Children 1. Introduction: 1.1 The Consortium for Street Children (CSC) is the leading international member-based network dedicated to advocating, promoting and campaigning for the rights of street-involved children. We are committed to creating a better and sustainable future for some of the most disadvantaged and stigmatised children by working together to inform and inspire research and action that influences policy and best practice worldwide. For more information please go to www.streetchildren.org.uk. The main questions from the International Development Committee's Terms of Reference which is relevant here are: How DFID works with other donors, multilateral agencies and NGOs to deliver assistance; the effectiveness of DFID's support for delivery of basic services; and DFID's support for orphans and vulnerable children. 2. Street children in
2.1 Zimbabwe is currently facing a lot of socio-economic challenges. According to a UNICEF study in 2004, an increasing number of children are finding themselves in the streets and/or in abusive homes. The study further notes that, because of unemployment, the ravaging effects of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, family poverty, persistent droughts, family breakdowns, crime and more often due to neglect, physical or sexual abuse, these children find themselves living outside family environment. 2.2 As of December 2005, the
unemployment rate in 2.3 This
resulted in a three-year pilot project implemented by CSC, in partnership with Streets
Ahead, Street Child Africa and the Jacha Community. The project carried out a
participatory rapid appraisal of one informal settlement in Epworth called
Jacha where the bulk of the children going to the streets of 2.4 The project saw the establishment of a
local government-civil society partnership in Epworth to reduce the flow of
children to the streets from a slum where the majority of street children
originate. The City of 2.5 Although
there are national polices through the children's act, there is no municipal
strategy on how to deal with street children in the city of 2.6 In written answers DFID stated that their 2.7 July 2005 to March 2009 (project on-going):
3. Conclusion:
3.1 CSC
believes that continued direct financial support for NGOs is crucial in the
context of 3.2 On a
local government level it is crucial that NGOs receive the support and advice
needed to engage positively with, for example, the 3.3 Further police training, as part of an integrated street children strategy, should be pursued to decrease the high levels of arbitrary round ups of street children. [1] http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2008-10-07a.10.1&s=%22street+children%22#g10.2 (7 October 2008 House of Lords, Baroness Crawley) and http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2009-03-18a.36.1&s=%22street+children%22 (18 March 2009, House of Lords, Lord Tunnicliffe). |