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Each year on 15 May, the International Day of Families reminds us of the central role that the family plays in the development, protection, and wellbeing of children. It also encourages reflection on situations where these bonds are weakened or broken. This message echoes Article 9 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which recognises every child’s right to live with their family and to maintain personal relations and direct contact with both parents, unless this is contrary to the child’s best interests. Yet for many children around the world, this right is not upheld, particularly for children in street situations, who are often separated from their families due to violence, poverty, rejection, abandonment, or a combination of these and other factors.

On the occasion of the International Day for Street Children (IDSC), celebrated every 12 April, our partners in several countries came together with children in street situations for celebrations filled with dialogue, awareness-raising, creativity and advocacy. These initiatives, led by our partners, aimed to highlight the voices, creativity, and commitment of these children around a right that is still too often denied: the right to identity.

Celebrated every year on 12 April, the International Day for Street Children serves as a reminder of the importance of recognising and upholding the rights of children in street situations. This year, together with our local partners, we are shining a light on the reality faced by millions of children who are denied the right to identity. Without official identity papers, millions of children across the world, including those living in street situations, are excluded from access to rights such as education, healthcare and protection. Invisible in the eyes of the state and often rejected by their families, children in street situations are among the most vulnerable. Yet they have dreams, ambitions, and above all, the right to be recognised and protected, just like any other child.

Without identity documents, millions of children around the world, including those living in street situations, are deprived of education, healthcare, protection, and many other rights. Invisible to the authorities and often rejected by their families, children in street situations are among the most vulnerable. Ensuring their right to identity is key to providing them with protection, future opportunities, and a place in society.

In Cambodia, despite legislative efforts to promote gender equality, social norms continue to perpetuate discrimination and domestic violence, as well as issues such as illiteracy and addiction, which has risen sharply over the last two years. That’s why the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) House of Families cares for families in situations of high vulnerability, focusing on the essential role of the family in child development.

A few months ago, two FAAI partnerships officers travelled to Cameroon to visit several centres managed by our local partner, the Chaîne des Foyers Saint-Nicodème, and to get a better overview of the activities carried out within the various projects in Douala.

Article 31 of the CRC explicitly recognises the right of every child to rest, leisure, play and participate in recreational, cultural and artistic activities appropriate to his or her age. This right, which is often neglected, is not accessory but fundamental to children’s physical, mental and social development. It offers them a space to express their creativity, build social relationships and construct their identity. Yet for children in street situations, this right is rarely respected.