Save the Children: The Sexual Abuse of Migrant Children

That's what Save the Children came to Italy. The disturbing urgency of the so-called survival emergency” in northern Italy causes the minority, the majority of sub-Saharan Africa, to be forced into prostitution if they cannot afford payment of 50 or 150 euros required by drivers to cross the border or for food or shelter.

“In terms of minors and more endangered are girls, part of the invisible influx of many unaccompanied immigrants to the northern border of Italy, in an effort to join their relatives in other European countries, who have no chance to travel safely to legal trajectors”, says the chairman of the programmes for Italy and Europe, of Save the Children.

Girls are often exposed to serious dangers of abuse and exploitation, in many cases they find themselves living under the conditions of great degradation.

She says the situation on the northern border has deteriorated by the removal in April of an improvised camp along the Guard River, which forced more minors to degrade and expose themselves to dangerous conditions.

According to the organisation, there should be greater efforts to protect children immigrants from sexual exploitation, including empowering anti-trafficking networks and providing more support to the affected.