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Of Children and Young People in the EU

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Of Children and Young People in the EU Voices of Children and Young People in the EU Child Helpline Data 2018 Special focus: Children & Young People in Migration Voices of Children and Young People in the EU Child Helpline Data 2018 Contents Child Helpline International Foreword 3 Pilotenstraat 20-22 1059CJ Amsterdam Why children and young people contacted The Netherlands child helplines in the EU in 2018 6 +31(0)20 528 96 25 Psychosocial and mental health 8 www.childhelplineinternational.org Family relationships 10 Abuse and violence 12 Contact us at: Peer relationships 14 [email protected] Sexuality and sexual awareness 16 Special focus: Written and edited by: Children and young people in migration 18 Ronja Ulvfot, Andrea Pereira PhD, Steve Erwood, Our members in the EU 24 Data compilation: Andrea Pereira, PhD Design and layout: Steve Erwood Disclaimer The data presented in this report was obtained through Child Helpline International’s annual data survey, and reported as collected and submitted by our child helpline members. We received data relating to the year of 2018 from 27 child helplines in 25 countries of the European Union. Data presented and statements made do not capture the full scope of practices and policies of all countries and cases handled by child helplines and other child protection organisations at the national level. The exact data can be requested from Child Helpline International. Child Helpline International’s work is firmly grounded in the principles and values enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, including children’s right to privacy and protection This publication was funded by the European from harm. To preserve the trust and confidence Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020). The content of children and young people place in child helplines this publication represents only the views of every day, any personal details cited in case Child Helpline International. The European summaries has been altered and anonymised. Commission does not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains. 2 Foreword Child Helpline International is a collective impact organisation with 173 members from helplines for children and young people in 142 countries and territories around the world. We coordinate information, viewpoints, knowledge and data from our members, and from our partners and other external sources. This exceptional resource is used to help and support child protection systems globally, regionally and nationally. It also helps our members to advocate for the rights of children and young people and amplify their voices. Our members have a unique insight into the direct experiences of children and young people on a larger scale than many other organisations. They work with a range of national partners and referral agencies to ensure that children and young people receive the support they need to thrive. They also have oversight of where services are missing or failing children and young people. The value of child helplines’ data on contacts from children and young people cannot be overstated in informing and guiding policy, learning and practice. In this report we showcase the data on contacts made during the year 2018 that we have collected from our child helpline members across the European Child helplines have Union. Children and young people continue to contact helplines about issues ranging from abuse to “a unique insight into bullying, with questions about sexuality and sexual awareness, and with concerns about family and the direct peer relationships. However, the key finding of this report is that, within the EU, more than one third experiences of of the contacts made by children and young people relate to psychosocial and mental health. It is children and young therefore essential that child helplines are supported and equipped to deal with the large number of these people on a larger cases. Every child has a voice, and we must ensure that we listen to each and every one of them. scale than many other organisations.” Patrick Krens Executive Director Child Helpline International Voices of Children & Young People in the EU 3 Introduction Every child and young person has the right to The fact remains that children’s lives play out in a be heard, the right to protection and the right to broad social context where a myriad of factors shape access essential services, free from bias or other their lives and rights. This demands the participation barriers. Child helplines play a critical role in the and commitment of governments and other key promotion and realisation of children’s rights actors in collaboration with child helplines. globally, as they provide a safe, low threshold, and an accessible platform for children and young people We call on governments, children’s rights actors, the across the globe to receive the support they need ICT industry, child helplines and the general public through immediate counselling and referral services. to ensure accessibility, high quality service and sustainability of child helplines everywhere. We Through quality data and first-hand insight into the call on all relevant actors to build partnerships that issues most affecting children’s lives, child helplines facilitate dialogue, knowledge exchange and strong have the immense capacity to advocate for networks that children and young people can access children’s rights and wellbeing in specific contexts in their everyday lives and at times of crisis. We call on and globally. governments and policy makers to listen to the views and needs of children and young people, and to take decisive action on the issues they raise. 4 Voices of Children & Young People in the EU: Child Helpline Data 2018 Key recommendations A multi-sectoral approach involving support and We make four key recommendations stemming long-term funding of the priorities laid out in our key from our collected data, and from our experience recommendations will contribute to the eradication as a global network. These recommendations of all violence against children as mandated in are designed to ensure that children’s rights Sustainable Development Goal 16.2. Such an and wellbeing are protected across the world approach will strengthen children’s rights as through the work of child helplines. safeguarded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and strengthen the child helplines that #1: Every child should have free and children and young people rely upon. It will protect unrestricted access to helpline services. and more importantly empower children and young National governments and the ICT sector people across the globe to access support where should support children’s rights by facilitating and when needed, and to be agents of change in the reach and accessibility of child helplines to their lives and the lives of others. all children and young people in their country. Support should be made available to raise Let’s ensure that every child’s right to be heard is awareness of child helplines in a child-friendly realised, and that every child helpline has access to manner that ensures children and young people the resources and global network they need to help know how to use helpline services and what make universal children’s rights a reality. they can expect. #2: Enhance the quality and sustainability of child helplines, so that they can do their crucial work to ensure children’s rights. Child helplines require reliable long-term funding to sustain and improve their activities. They should receive funding and support towards the implementation of good practices such as data analysis, trainings and contingency plans. #3: Enhance structured partnerships, as they have a crucial role in eradicating violence against all children. Governments, child protection agencies and thematic expert organisations should work with child helplines to build a highly integrated service network. In doing so, it is important to consider the diverse needs of children and young people. Vulnerable and under-represented groups of children and young people stand to benefit from increased coordination among child helplines and other actors. #4: The voices of children, gathered through child helpline data and youth participation, should inform policy and decision-making that affects children’s lives. Children’s voices should not only play a role in shaping child helpline services, but should inform decision- making at the highest levels. Voices of Children & Young People in the EU 5 Why children and young people contacted child helplines in the EU in 2018 Child helplines collect anonymous data on the contacts they receive from children, young people and concerned adults on a daily basis. This includes, for example, the reason for contact, age and gender of the child, and the method of contact (telephone, website, etc.). Total number of contacts received in 2018 by child helplines in the EU who provided data to Child Helpline International. 2 121 853 This includes requests for information, missed calls, silent calls, prank calls and abusive calls. Total number of counselling contacts received in 2018 by child helplines in the EU who provided data to Child Helpline International. 1 268 995 This represents 58.9% of the total contacts. ...Most children Gender analysis “who contacted Our data suggest that girls are more likely to contact child helplines in the EU than boys – 55% of contacts child helplines were made by girls, compared to 32.5% by boys. The in the EU in gender of 11.8% of the callers was not identified. It is interesting to note that boys seem slightly 2018 expressed more likely than girls to make contact to discuss concerns related to sexuality and sexual awareness. concerns related to Furthermore, it is in this particular category that we also observe the highest number of contacts psychosocial and from children and young people whose gender identification is non-binary.
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