Protection
Child protection.
Terre des hommes is actively engaged in protecting children against exploitation, abuse, trafficking and violence. Children with no parental protection, especially street children and AIDS orphans, are particularly exposed to these dangers. Through reintegration with their family, school or a professional activity, Tdh gives them new future perspectives. Tdh also provides psychological and social assistance to children in times of conflict or natural disasters. Within the scope of its justice for minors programmes, Tdh provides legal and social support to children in conflict with the law. In addition, each Tdh project has a system to prevent the abuse of the children within it and to swiftly take the necessary legal steps should this however occur.
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International Adoption
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Humanitarian crises
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Juvenile justice
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Trafficking and exploitation
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Street children
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The Adoption Section
International adoption is a tradition at Terre des hommes: we have the advantage of over 40 years’ experience in this sphere. As authorized intermediaries, we guarantee the legal and ethical sequence of adoption procedures. Watching over the highest interests of the child is our main concern, and we are committed to denouncing the abuse of adoption practices and using our know-how and experience on both national and international levels.
Tdh presents the tasks of the adoption section and the children’s background, explains the conditions required and the procedure when adopting a child in the documents on the right. Tdh can support the adult person in search for its roots. In the book “Adoption in all its states”, Tdh published its experience in the field of international adoption.
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Humanitarian crises and armed conflicts
Terre des hommes is actively engaged in psychosocial care for child victims of natural disasters and conflicts. At specialised recreation centres, Tdh helps children to overcome their trauma and to rediscover a normal life through a pedagogical approach based on play, sport and artistic activities. Tdh also offers an alternative education programme in places where the school system has partly broken down or is inadequate. Furthermore, Tdh actively works with communities towards the progressive reorganisation of the social environment.
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Juvenile justice
Terre des hommes is committed to educational rather than punitive justice for minors, taking into consideration the interests of the victims and the need for the social reintegration of delinquent minors. Respecting international norms, Tdh assists in giving social and legal support to minors in conflict with the law. This makes it possible to both respect their rights in the procedure and, right from the start, to work towards their reintegration into the community in order to avoid further offences. In parallel, Tdh trains policemen, prosecutors, judges, lawyers, social workers and psychologists to set up alternatives to detention: parole, social assistance, conciliation, penal mediation, probation and community service. Finally, Tdh works with the national authorities concerned to adapt laws to respect the child’s dignity in accordance with international legislative standards.
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Trafficking, exploitation and at-risk migration
Terre des hommes battles against all forms of child exploitation. It is particularly committed to preventing the displacement of children from one region to another for exploitation. It looks for alternative solutions within the family and community, such as education, training or job prospects close to home. Tdh also seeks to protect those children who have already fallen victim to trafficking by arranging their social and familial reintegration. Tdh pressures the authorities and communities involved to take the necessary measures on regional, national and international levels to wipe out the trade in children. Tdh also combats the trafficking of children for international adoption by denouncing abuses in the countries of origin and helping the authorities to set up systems and laws which consider the interests of the child. In addition, Tdh calls upon the receiving countries to apply the conventions on international adoption that they have ratified.
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Street children, lack of family support
Terre des hommes helps children who have to sleep and/or work on the street. Tdh furthers their skills and builds on these, notably with educational activities and apprenticeships. It also helps them integrate socially by strengthening family and community bonds and providing a school place or the opportunity to work in dignified conditions where their rights are respected. Tdh also acts on the root causes (lack of opportunities, injustices, lack of family and community support, etc.) which marginalise these children.
Terre des hommes also fights against AIDS in various ways. In Mozambique and Burundi, Tdh cares for children whose parents are AIDS victims. Foster families are appointed and regularly given assistance by women’s groups supported by Tdh. The children are entrusted to their care as part of a process of familial and psychosocial rehabilitation. Elsewhere, such as in Romania, Tdh is battling to ensure that any child or juvenile who is HIV-positive is not the victim of discrimination and has the right to appropriate treatment in the best possible conditions.Discover projects: -
Headquarters
Terre des hommes
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