South and Central Asia

This region is considered to be one of the poorest regions in the world. The lack of human development in this region is partly to blame for its high poverty level. South Asia possesses the highest illiteracy rate, as well as the largest percentage of child malnutrition. South and Central Asia exhibit political, religious, ethnic, and linguistic diversity. HIV and AIDS are not widespread in the region, but the potential for a pandemic resembling that of Africa is evident.

Members

Amos Trust

Calcutta Hope

Child Welfare Scheme

Edith Wilkins Street Children Foundation

Frishta Children's Village

Hope for Children

International Children's Trust

International HIV/AIDS Alliance

International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)

Jubilee Action

Plan UK

Railway Children

Save the Children UK

SKCV Children's Trust

SOS Children's Villages

Street Kids International

Students Supporting Street Kids (SSSK)

The Esther Benjamins Trust

Publications

A Civil Society Forum for East and South East Asia on Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Street Children 2003
This conference is the third in a series of regional forums organised by the Consortium for Street Children with the aim of bringing together key NGOs and government representatives from selected countries to exchange experiences and formulate recommendations for the promotion and protection of the human rights of streetchildren within each region.

A Dream Come True for Street Kids
Article by the Hindu Times on the NGO Childhood Enhancement through Training and Action's (CHETNA) programme for providing opportunities for education for street children.

A Journey in Children's Participation
This report outlines the experiences and perceptions related to children’s participation gathered by the Concerned for Working Children through their work to increase child participation.

A Life Without Basic Service: "street children say"
This study examines the human and emotional dimension of life on the street, providing the opportunity for a group of children to represent their own analysis of their situation and the organisations who work with them.

A Silence So Shrill
Article presenting the findings from a survey on child abuse conducted by the child and welfare department, the Delhi-based NGO Prayas and funded by the UNICEF.

A Situational Analysis of Child Sex Tourism in Nepal
This study presents the findings from quantative and qualitative based research conducted into the occurrence sex tourism in the regions of Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara.

A Situational Analysis of the Street Child Phenomenon in Pakistan: A Literature Review

A Study of the Children of Chaturbhuj Asthan The Red-Light District of Muzaffarpur, Bihar
This paper presents the findings from a survey conducted to provide clear data on the families of the Chaturbhujasthan red light area including the numbers of different types of families in the area, their economic status and the educational status of boys and girls.

A Study of the Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Beliefs in the Context of HIV/AIDS among Out-of-School Street-Based Children in Kathmandu and Pokhara
This study, examining the Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Beliefs of street-based children in the context of HIV/AIDS, was conducted to provide high quality data that can be acted upon with greater confidence to improve the appropriateness and effectiveness of programme interventions aimed at HIV prevention among street children.

A Study of Trafficked Nepalese Girls and Women in Mumbai and Kolkata, India - A Summary of Findings
This paper provides a summary of the findings from the study of Nepalese girls and women after they have been sold for prostituion in brothels in Mumbai and Kolkata. The study focuses on the economic and social system that engenders the trafficking process.     

A study on the assessment of learning achievements of street and working children, school dropouts and marginalized youth
This study is an attempt to assess the learning achievement of street, working and dropoit children who have been educated in the DNFE's 'hard to reach' schools as well as in some NGOs' own schools.

Abuse among Child Domestic Workers: A research study in West Bengal
More than 50,000 children are employed in domestic work in the Indian city of Wet Bengal. This study - carried out by Save the Children over a four-year period in six districts of West Bengal - found that these children were routinely subjected to many different forms of abuse from unsafe working conditions and lack of food to being beaten, deliberately burnt or sexually abused.

Alcohol and Drug Use among Street Children in Nepal: a Study in Six Urban Centres
This report outlines the findings from a study conducted into the patterns of substance and alcohol use by street children and the impact this has on their lives. In addition it suggests appropriate measures for combatting substance use among street children.

An Operational Research on 'Burning Childhood - the Child on the Street'
This report outlines the situation of street children in Vijayawada and the initatives carried out by Vasavya through their programmes for street children.

Assessment 2000 Juvenile Justice in Kazakhstan
This report presents the findings and recommendations of the first part of an appraisal and formulation mission on the juvenile justice system in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The main goal of the first part of the mission was an assessment of the situation in Kazakhstan.

Asylums of Exploitation: Internally Displaced Children in the Worst Forms of Child Labour due to the Armed Conflict in Nepal
This study explores the link between the armed conflict in Nepal and the working patterns of children, providing hard evidence to support the assertion that ever-increasing numbers of young children in Nepal are being forced to abandon their communities in outlying areas of the country and move to urban areas in search of peace and security.

At the Margins - Street Children in Asia and the Pacific
This paper provides an introductory snapshot of issues concerning "street children" in this vast and culturally diverse region. It provides an overview of the issues connected with street children and intervention practices in the region.

Backward and Forward Linkages that Strengthen Primary Education
This article discusses the provision of primary education in regions of Northern India.

Caught in the Middle: Mounting Violations Against Children in Nepal's Armed Conflict
This report combines information collected from a variety of sources to document violations against children and adolescents in the context of the armed conflict in Nepal.

Development of City Farms by Street Children
This paper outlines a pilot project initiated to improve the socio-economic condition of destitute children through city farm projects.

Dire Needs of Central Asia's Street Children
News article discussing services for street children in Central Asia.

Ensuring Child Rights
An editorial by the Bangladesh newspaper The New Nation discussing steps the government has taken towards ensuring child rights.

Escaping Violence, Seeking Freedom: Why Children in Bangladesh Migrate to The Street
This paper explores the debate on the causes underlying the migration of children to the street. Through the analysis of detailed empirical research with children in Bangladesh, it finds that social factors lie behind most street migration and, in particular, that moves to the street are closely associated with violence to, and abuse of, children within the household and local community.

Experiences of sexual coercion among streetboys in Bangalore, India
This report outlines the findings from a study carried out by BOSCO examining high-risk sexual behaviour among street children in Bangalore.

From the politics of poverty to the politics of identity? Child rights and working children in Bangladesh
Drawing on primary research in development organisations and with working children themselves, this paper questions the logic of child rights, and it's validity for the cultural context of Bangladesh.

Girls on the street - Alone and at risk around transport terminals
This report outlines the learning of the NGO Railway Children through their work with girl street children.

Glue Sniffing Among Street Children in the Kathmandu Valley
This report presents the findings from a study conducted in to the trend and impact of glue sniffing among street children in the Kathmandu valley.

Indian Street Kids Give a Glimpse into their Lives
Article from Pakistan's Daily Times on a scheme set up by the Salaam Baalak Trust, an Indian charity for homeless children, which organises for street children to take tourists on tours around the area surrounding the New Delhi station.

KABPS Study for Street Children in Karachi
This report presents the findings from a survey conducted among children aged between 10-24 living and/or working on the street in Karachi. Findings include demographic information, economic profile, substance abuse, health problems and Social patterns and trends for leaving home.

Karachi: 49pc street children at high risk of HIV
Article giving an overview of reports on the situation of street children in Karachi.

Life without Basic Service ''Street Children Say''
This study builds on the learning of Street Diary (Save the Children UK, 2001), giving theopportunity for a group of children to represent their own analysis of their situation. Itexamines the human and emotional dimension of life on the street. This is not astatistical or quantitative research but is representative of the feelings of children livingon the street about their lives and organisations working with them.

Moving forward A report on pioneering responses to children affected by HIV/AIDS in Andhra Pradesh, India
This report draws on the experiences of the NGO Vasavya Mahila Mandali (VMM), to identify gaps in existing services and propose effective initiatives, policies and examples of good practice for dealing with the issues that children face when they are affected by HIV/AIDS.

Negotiating Identity: Challenging Society’sPerception of ‘Street Children’
Addressing the power-relations of society in which ‘street children’ find themselves, this study makes an attempt to contrast how they perceive themselves with the perception of Indian society towards them.

Networking for Policy Change: An Advocacy Training Manual

No Room for Child Labour
Article by The Hindu on the government's introduction of legislation banning child labour.

Organizational Diagnosis for Advocacy
When groups are considering advocacy, it is helpful for them to assess what advocacy actually can offer their organization, what some of the benefits and risks might be and what organizational barriers might influence their success.

Parents renting children out to gangs: Report
Article reporting the increasing trend of children being rented to gangs be their parents to work as beggars.

Policy Brief: A child survival emergency – refocusing Britain’s objectives in Afghanistan
The current UK and NATO approach in Afghanistan is blurring the lines between military objectives and the imperatives of humanitarian relief and sustainable development. This is putting aid workers in peril and jeopardising the safety of Afghan civilians, making it even harder to achieve real progress towards humanitarian objectives. Life chances for children in Afghanistan are among the worst in the world. The UK's role needs to be framed by this challenge, and not simply by security goals.

Policy Forum Report Education for All: Non-Formal Education Among Street Children in Nepal
Report on the policy forum held to discuss policies and programmes to improve the learning opportunities for out-of-school children, particularly street children.

PRA with Street Children in Nepal
This account outlines the rationale behind using certain PRA techniques for research on the health, backgrounds and life-styles of street children in Kathmandu, Nepal. In addition the process of data collection and results generated for their impact on the children’s livelihoods are assessed.

Psychosocial Predictors of HIV/AIDS Risk Behaviours in Nepalese Street Youth
Background: HIV/AIDS has the potential to become a leading cause of death in Nepal. The around 30,000 street youth here are especially vulnerable to HIV as they share characteristics with and closely interact with higher risk groups. While international studies of street youth have surfaced important demographic, historical, and severity of homelessness predictors, modifiable psychosocial predictors have not been identified in this population. Due to the interpersonal nature of HIV transmission and to the complex intertwined social networks of these youth, consideration of such factors is essential.Objectives: To establish whether modifiable psychosocial constructs independently predict behavioral risk for HIV in Nepalese street adolescents, and to make street- and culturally sensitive recommendations for reducing their exposure to the HIV virus.Methods: Three hundred and seven 15-24 year old street-living, street-working and streettransiting males were recruited from primarily street locations in Kathmandu, Nepal, to complete a closed-ended orally-administered questionnaire.Results: This study captured one of the highest risk sub-groups of street youth in Nepal. Sixty-four percent of sexually active respondents had ever had a known HIV positive, injecting drug using, or commercial sex partner, 56% had ever had anal sex, survival sex, forced sex, or sex while intoxicated, and 78% had had at least one of any of these. Only 30% and 13% reported consistent condom use with commercial and non-regular partners, respectively. Twenty-three percent of youth had ever injected drugs, and of these, 65% had shared needles. Multivariate logistic regression showed area interviewed, older age, history of sexual abuse, longer time since leaving home, higher risk activities with peers, difficulty meeting food needs, lack of connection to an NGO worker, perception that more peers have had sex, less social support, and less self-efficacy to use condoms to all predict HIV risk.Conclusion: In addition to demographic, historical, and severity of homelessness variables, modifiable psychosocial factors were important predictors of HIV risk. These youth.s greatly increased risk of exposure may be buffered by social strategies such as preventing risky peer group norms, building bonds between NGO staff and street youth, and facilitating development of their assertiveness and negotiation skills.

Recommendations from the NationalWorkshop on Children Living with HIV3rd-4th May 2006
This paper outlines the recommendations from the workshop on children living with HIV/AIDS, the objectives of which were to enhance understanding about issues ofchildren living with HIV/AIDS and to develop practical programme and policy recommendations for providing care, support and treatment to children living with HIV.

Report for SPAN on the Human Rights' Violations of the Ragpicker Children
The aim of this report is to analyse the problems that ragpicker children face and frame them in terms of human rights violations and what the legal implications are. The information in this report is gathered from SPAN workers, the children themselves and from the authors own observation and research.

Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Nepal
Report released by the UN Secretary-General examining trends in children's rights violations in Nepal. The report also gives an update on the recommendations in the previous report of the Secretary-General and the conclusions of the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.

Setting up a Campaign - A Successful Campaign: P.E.A.C.E. / Sri Lanka's ECPAT national representative
Based on the experiences of P.E.A.C.E., the ECPAT International Prevention of Child Sex Tourism Project designed these guidelines to show how a 'preventing child sex tourism' campaign can be carried out. The guidelines will help readers to carry out their own campaign and promote, in cooperation with the tourism sector, better protection for children in the context of sustainable tourism.

Situation Analysis and Need Assessment on Street Children with Disabilities in Dhaka City
This study investigates the current socio-economic status of the Street Children with disabilities, the special issues affecting their lives and suggests appropriate and feasible interventions to upgrade their status.

Situation of Children in Conflict, Yemen
Summary report of research undertaken in December 2009 in partnership with UNICEF, covering health, education, recruitment of child soldiers and various human rights abuses

Situation of Children in Conflict, Yemen (Arabic)
Summary report of research undertaken in December 2009 in partnership with UNICEF, covering health, education, recruitment of child soldiers and various human rights abuses.

Situational Analysis of Street Children Education for All Policy Review and Best Practices Studies on Basic NFE for Children Living and/or Working on the Streets in Pakistan
This National Assesment includes a national situational analysis of street children, review of educational policies and EFA (Education for All) and case studies on best practices on basic NFE for street children living on the streets and potential areas of strategic intervention for UNESCO.

Situational Analysis Report on Prostitution of Boys in Pakistan (Lahore and Peshawar)
This research analyses the vunerability of boy street children to sexual exploitation in Pakistan.The research provides a window for understanding the stereotyped gender constructions which underpin concepts of child protection, and how this has led to inadequate protection of boy children including and a social blindness in relation to their experiences of sexual exploitation and sexual violence.

Small Dreams Beyond Reach: The Lives of Migrant Children and Youth Along the Borders of China, Myanmar and Thailand
This paper reports the findings from a Save the Children Participatory Action Research (PAR) project with migrant children and youth along the shared borders of China, Myanmar and Thailand from April 1999-March 2001. This project aims to increase awareness of the concerns and needs of the growing numbers of children and youth migrating.

Society for Protection of Rights of Children report
Article outlining the findings from the Society for Protection of Rights of Children report.

Solvent Abuse Among Street Children in Pakistan
This study presents the fndings of a survey conducted into solvent abuse among adolescents in Pakistan, analysisng the prevelance of the trend, the demographic and socio-economic profile of solvent abusers and the nature, extent and quality of treatment and rehabilitation facilities, if any, for street children abusing solvents.

Street and Working Children’s Participation in Programming for their Rights
This paper draws conceptual and practical lessons from the experiences of Butterflies Programme of Street and Working Children in Delhi, India, within the historical and political framework of child rights-participation focused work in South Asia. It creates space for children's own experiences, perceptions, and concerns as a central component of childfocused development work.

Street Children and Juvenile Justice in Pakistan
Street children are particularly vulnerable to abuses in juvenile justice systems: they are more likely to come into (actual or perceived) conflict with the law, and they are less able to defend themselves from abuse once within the system. This report documents the findings from a project conducted by CSC examiming the situation of human rights abuses against street children in juvenile justice systems in Pakistan.

Street children are unseen victims of Mumbai terror
Article by The Sunday Times on the impact of the Mumbai terror attacks on the cities street children.

Street Children Continue to be Victims of Violence
Article on violence experienced by street children in Bangladesh.

Street Children in Nepal Struggling with AIDS
Article on the prevelance of HIV among street children in Nepal.

Struggle for Survival: A Study on the Needs and Problems of the Street and Working Children in Sylhet City
This study investigates the present scenario of child labor in Sylhet, Bangladesh.

Study of Policies and Programmes Addressing the Right of Street Children to Education
This research project analyses the government's policies, strategies, and programmes in regard to Non-Formal Education (NFE) for out of school children, particularly street children as their basic fundamental right. The study aims to address some key issues and highlights the initiatives taken by various organizations to address the educational problem for out of school children, particularly street children, in connection to EFA.

Study on Child Abuse: India 2007
This report outlines the findings from the 2005 National study on Child Abuse conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The study explores physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and girl child neglect.

The Challenges for India’s Education System Marie Lall, Chatham
This paper, the first in an occasional series on India’s education system, places the current issues facing education in India in a historical context.

The heroes of Jamghat
Article by The Hindu on the home for street children Jamghat, based in Delhi.

The Kerala Difference
Article from Frontline on the low incidence of child labour in Kerala.

The State of Pakistan's Children 2005
This report presents a range of perceptions on the situation of Pakistan's children in 2005. Chapters focus on health, education, children in prison, child labour, violence against children and on the consequences of the October 2005 earthquake on children.

Towards Evolving a Rights-Based Participatory Monitoring Tool for Sustainable Human Development and Reduction of Vulnerability of Street Children in Urban South Asia
Based on field research and conceptual analysis from different approaches - Rights -Based approaches, empowerment and capabilities approaches and sustainable livelihoods approaches, the paper attempts to evolve multiple yardsticks for participatory monitoring framework for street children from their perspectives and also for benchmarking achievements of programmes/projects related to them. In short, this paper attempts to derive a participatory monitoring tool for progress towards sustainable human development of street children in South Asia.

Trafficking and Sexual Abuse among Street Children in Kathmandu
This report presents the findings from a study conducted by the ILO investigaing trafficking and sexual abuse among the street children in Kathmandu.

What is Advocacy?
The main objective of this paper is to define more precisely the concept of advocacy and to identify how to advocate street working children's rights in accordance with local potentialities and constraints. After analysing information from different agencies, concrete suggestions have been made that could apply in Peshawar and possibly in ASCHIANA in Kabul. The findings are not limited to Terre des hommes' involvement in Pakistan and Afghanistan. They might benefit to the overall Terre des hommes' delegations and other agencies committed in favour of children's rights.

Working with Street Children: Exploring Ways for ADB Assistance
This paper provides a summary of the findings from the study of Nepalese girls and women after they have been sold for prostituion in brothels in Mumbai and Kolkata. The study focuses on the economic and social system that engenders the trafficking process.     

Young People and HIV/AIDS: Responding to the new Asian crisis
This report aims to illustrate the approaches used by Save the Children UK to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on children across South and South-East Asia and prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS.

Young People and HIV/AIDS: Responding to the new Asian crisis
This report illustrates how Save the Children is working to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS on children across South and South-East Asia and how we work with children to prevent the further spread of HIV and AIDS.

Resources