The rights of children of migrant workers were discussed at an international conference in Kyiv

Sunday, 02 September 2012, 22:29
On Monday, 27th of August, the Second International Research-to-practice Conference, named “Migration within the Context of Civilizational Transformation of Ukraine and of the World”, took place in Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv; this year it was dedicated to the children of Ukrainian migrant workers. Commission of the UGCC on Matters of Immigrants as well as the School of Ukrainian Language and Culture participated as organizers. Commission of the UGCC on Matters of Primary Education was the partner in this conference.

The conference was attended by 105 people who came from 9 countries of the world: Father Vasyl Potochnyak, who is the representative of Pastoral Missionary Department of UGCC, researchers- Iryna Klyuchkovska (who is the head of the International Institute of Education, Culture and Relations with Diaspora of Lviv Polytechnic National University), Dr. Olena Malynovska (Institute for Strategic Studies), representatives of the government, public figures, leaders of the charitable organizations, particularly “Caritas Ukraine”- whose president is Andriy Vasylkovych, “Zaporuky” fund; leaders of Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and Polish migrant societies. Even though the main theme of the conference was the invitations (to migrate) of migrant children, especially their psycho-social and legal protection, a number of reports were also concerned about the general study and regulation of migration processes.

In particular, Hryhoriy Seleshchuk in his speech emphasized that, despite the fact that the Concept of the State Migration Policy has already been approved in Ukraine the public discourse regarding the understanding of migration invitations actually has not even started.

Oksana Filipishyna, who is the authorized representative of the Commissioner for the observance of rights of child, nondiscrimination and gender equality, focused the attention of all those who attended on the legal aspects of determining the status of the migrant worker’s child, noting that in the current Ukrainian legislation those children should be classified into the category of children who find themselves in difficult life circumstances. Instead, the term “social orphans” that circulates around the Ukrainian public space does not have any legal grounding.

The discussion regarding the term was also undertaken and continued by psychologists, in particular by Maryana Nych from the charitable fund “Zaporuka”, where some other projects supporting migrant workers were established. The psychologist stressed that while calling migrant children the orphans, we immediately stigmatize them and this only worsens their trauma.

Iryna Klyuchkovska,who is the head of the International Institute of Education, Culture and Relations with Diaspora of Lviv Polytechnic National University, stressed that it is of crucial importance today to ensure those children, who live with their parents abroad, with the relevant textbooks, programs for learning Ukrainian language, literature and history.

Sister Khrystofora, who is the head of the Commission of UGCC on Matters of Primary Education, noted that the Church has always made concessions for people, to help them in specific situations, and migration is one of such serious challenges in human life.

Moreover, during the conference the work in sections took place, where the issues of migrant workers’ children were discussed in more details. The event culminated with the approval of the resolution by the government representatives on the duties which include caring after the children.

As reported by Svitlana Odynets’

 

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