Affiliation: United Nations - UNICEF (United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund) available at Beyond Borders - 2010 Haiti Earthquake / Fondasyon Limyelan / Free the Slaves

Post-Disaster Work Focused on Children

Beyond Borders has been working for the last ten years to address the problem of child servitude in Haiti. An estimated one in ten Haitian children live in servitude. Through our partner in Haiti, Fondasyon Limyè Lavi, we have mobilized grassroots groups working on this issue and brought them together to strengthen and improve their initiatives. We have also begun a comprehensive and intensive community-wide intervention to prevent the flow of children into servitude, equip parents to rescue children they have sent away, and improve the treatment of children who cannot be reunited with their families.

In the wake of this unbelievable disaster, the risks for vulnerable children in Haiti is will be immense. The number of children orphaned or separated from their parents will be large. These children will be especially vulnerable to trafficking, exploitation, and sexual violence. We have a unique understanding of and capacity for mobilizing grassroots groups to work effectively to protect children separated from their parents. Local grassroots leaders we work with are well known in their communities and have a tremendous possibility for truly meeting children's needs. These leaders can affect great change when they have support, resources, and training/information.

Drawing upon the recommendations of agencies who have worked in post-disaster child protection (UNICEF, ECPAT International) as well as our 15 years of working in Haiti, we are developing the mechanisms, support, and services to address the needs of vulnerable children. In the short term, we are paying particular attention to finding families of children who have been orphaned or separated and raising awareness and vigilance among relief workers and the general population about the risks for trafficking and exploitation among vulnerable children. We have also been strengthening authorities' (local leaders, police) sense of duty and ability to protect these children, and supporting grassroots organizations' capacity to provide necessary and safe services to these children.

In order to achieve this, we are now assessing the fallout of this situation, the location and numbers of children as well as their situations. Knowing UNICEF and Save the Children are working to develop national strategies, we will intensify our collaboration with them to learn and draw from the resources they develop.

Our connenction with over 60 grassroots organizations in Port-au-Prince and outlying towns situated near the epicenter is a key contribution in collaborating with other organizations on this crisis. We have a history of working with these local organizations and will ensure that our interventions are grounded in their local reality and help the children that are most vulnerable in this crisis.

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