street+children+around+the+world

Children Around The World By Judson Conrad

Home History Health Webquest Questions Works Cited

 The problem of street children in the world is a very prominent issue. The problem is most common in underdeveloped countries, but is not nonexistent in developed countries like the United States. Not only does every country have street children, but almost every city and town as well. The places with the greatest populations of street children are Africa, some parts of Asia, and Latin America. In the world as a whole there is an estimated total of 100 million children living on the streets.

In Africa and Asia combined there are over 35 million street children, 25 million in Asia and 10 million in Africa. This is 35% of the population of street children in the world, concentrated in these two continents. Also, these numbers were estimated in the 1990’s, so the amount of street children has increased since then. The amount of street children in these places can be accounted for by the AIDS epidemic. Because the parents of many of these children are dying, the children move to the streets for support.

Latin America has the greatest population of street children in the world. The number is estimated to be close to 40 million, 40% of the world’s population of street children. Only 25% of the street children in Latin America are girls. This number is so low because many girls disguise themselves as boys to avoid harassment. The majority of children living on the streets range from ages 10-17, and many still have contact with their family. In Columbia, 2190 children were targeted and killed by death squads.

In Europe there are close to 15 million street children. This may not be as drastic as in under-developed areas, but it is still an issue of great concern. Most street children in the world are abused by law enforcement, forced into labor, raped, and beaten. 90% are addicted to inhalants such as shoe glue and paint thinner. All are exposed to sexually transmitted diseases. One child in Mongolia states, “Children's rights? We have nothing. We're just like human garbage. Nobody needs us. Anyone can come and beat us. I want to go to a place where there is no beating. Recently children from that house came over and hit us all for no reason. The police come to us only if a theft happens nearby. They take us to the police station where they beat and beat demanding we confess to stealing. They force us to sit on a stool like this and then beat us with batons. Or they tie you tightly on a bench, insert a wooden pole between the legs, right below the crotch and then start rolling it ... so-o-o painful.” Dolgion.

http://cpcabrisbane.org/Kasama/2005/V19n3/LifeOfStreetChildren.htm

Violence, abuse, disease, and poverty are a norm for these children.