Panel Discussion777 United Nations Plaza

New York, NY 10017

October 17, 2013

Migrant Children and Youth:A Global Crisis

The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, Inc. (CHCF) and the International Forum for Child Welfare (IFCW) cosponsored a panel discussion and forum on the neglected rights and welfare of migrant children and youth, solutions to the growing crises of unaccompanied migrant children and trafficked children, and actions by international organizations, New York State service agencies and not-for-profit organizations. The forum sought to raise awareness of the plight of millions of children and youth globally, shed light on an often obscured topic and explore how governments, international organizations, community-based organizations and NGO’s can work together to bring solutions to this crisis. Panel participants expounded on the causes for child migration, the conditions that contribute to human trafficking of children and the emotional and psychological consequences for these children. Panelists also offered a description of resources and the approaches of each of their institutions in addressing this scourge.

Vanessa Ramos, Senior Director for Policy, CHCF welcomes the attendants on behalf of The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, Inc.

Seppo Sauro,Vice President IFCWwelcomes the attendants

Bruce Rivers, Special Advisor for IFCW presenting the working paper for the panel discussion

Alphonso B. David, Deputy Secretary for Civil Rights, State of New York

Matilda RaffaCuomo, Founder, Mentoring USA remarks on the crisis of migrant children

Kerry Neal, LL.M, Child Protection Specialist, Justice for Children, UNICEFWhat are the vulnerabilities of migrant children? How are international actors cooperating to protect children from danger, exploitation and trafficking?

José Luis Fernández Valoni, Counselor, Permanent Mission of Argentina to the UNInternational protection of migrant boys and girls and the dangers of trafficking from a Latin American perspective; MERCOSUR’s request for an advisory opinion on migrant children before the Inter American Court of Human Rights.

Gladys Carrión, Esq., Commissioner, New York State Office of Children and FamilyServicesPolicies undertakenby the New York Office of Children and Family Services toassist migrantchildren and youth.

Margaret Healy Esq., Senior Vice President for Latin America, Covenant House InternationalExperiences with migrant youth trafficked in Mexico and Central America and best practices and procedures to protect migrant and trafficked children.

Commissioner Gladys Carrión, Margaret Healy, Kerry Neal and Mrs. Matilda Raffa Cuomo

Seppo Sauro; Diane Walton, Consultant, Farnsworth & Ass. Inc.; and Gordon Phaneuf, Treasurer of The International Forum for Child Welfare.

Dr. Jocelyn Brown, Director, Child Advocacy Center of New York

A Forum participant speaking about his experience as a migrant

Olga Byrne, Director, NY Unaccompanied Immigrant Children Project, Feerick Center for Social Justice, Fordham Law School

IFCW members Matilda Raffa Cuomo, Mentoring USA; Theresa Costello, Action for Child Protection, USA; Gordon Phaneuf, Child Welfare League Canada; Dr. Jocelyn Brown, Child Advocacy Center of New York, USA ; Seppo Sauro, Central Union for Child Welfare, Finland; Bruce Rivers, Covenant House Toronto, Canada.

The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, Inc.

This event was sponsored by

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