Profile of children on the move in the Northern Triangle of Central America

CHALLENGES FACED BY CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AND FACILITATING RESIDENCE

Barriers to school reinsertion

Guilty for not being able to help their families and/or acquiring a “travel debt�

Obstacles to access to psychosocial protection or incomegenerating services

Frustration at failed attempt

There are important policy developments in protection of the rights of children and adolescents in transit, requiring political to make the care and reintegration in the countries of origin effective and prevent recidivism.

ACTIONS FOR CARE BY SAVE THE CHILDREN In Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador there are Protocols for the integral attention of children and adolescents who return. Children and adolescents receive food and care, their mental and physical health is recorded, a relative is contacted to return them to their places of residence.

El Salvador

Guatemala

Honduras

Family shelter project, strengthening of community social fabric and support of protection systems for the return with government institutions.

Community youth participation for the integration of returnees, strengthening of friendly spaces and the social fabric in the community.

Strengthening of municipal round tables for the protection, accompaniment for educational reinsertion and psychosocial support for returned children.

PROFILE OF CHILDREN ON THE MOVE IN THE NORTHERN TRIANGLE OF CENTRAL AMERICA

In 2016, over 200,000 children and adolescents were detained by the authorities in the United States and Mexico. Of these, 75% come from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Due to their physical and psychological characteristics, children and adolescents in conditions of human mobility are more vulnerable to all forms of violence, and represent 62% of the victims of trafficking detected1. Because of this, it is important to establish mechanisms for comprehensive and effective care to those who return. This is why it is essential to establish mechanisms for comprehensive and effective care for those who return.

United States

CONTEXTUALIZATION Children and adolescents accounted for 53% of returnees in 2016.

62% were boys between 15 and 17 years with a medium level of education.

Guatemala Honduras El Salvador

Only 45% of the children and adolescents returned with their families.

68.8% of them had basic education and 6.7% had no education at all.

Mexico

85 children and adolescents were arrested and returnees every day to their countries of origin.

In 2016 Guatemala Honduras

More than 300,000 children and adolescents returned Guatemala: 12,512 Honduras: 9,203 El Salvador: 9,259

“Finally, we were arrested in Monterrey, near the border at the hotel, we were put in a pickup truck small ‘The kennel’. We were arrested in a room full of men of all nationalities, I had to sleep on near these ordinary men, the food was awful, then we were moved to the corral one night and day.

They separated me from my brother and mother.”

Roberto, 16 years old - El Salvador

43% travel without company of an adult.

El Salvador

CAUSES OF MIGRATION Domestic violence and in communities.

Family reunification.

The low quality and access to livelihoods that ensure full development in their countries.

REPORTED ABUSE Traffic: trafficking in persons, traffic, exploitation, physical and sexual violence. Physical and emotional impairment.

Detention and transit: violation of rights. Closure in shelters or cells of adults where they do not have the care, food and care appropriate.

1 Source: UNDOC, 2016

55% of the returned children and adolescents travelled unaccompanied. 60% were boys and 40% girls. Boys between 16 and 17 years represent 33% of all returnees. Children between 0 and 6 years migrating under irregular conditions account for 25% of the total.

“The road was very heavy, sometimes we would walk for hours and hours, sometimes no one wanted to give us a ‘ride’, sometimes we ate, sometimes not; sometimes we didn’t slept for fear that they were going to grab us or something would’ve happen.”

Estephany, 15 years old - Honduras