07 June 2021
From Faith to Action: Inter-Religious Action to Protect the Rights of Children Affected by Migration
https://www.unicef.org/eca/reports/faith-action-inter-religious-action-protect-rights-children-affected-migration
FROM FAITH TO ACTION: INTER-RELIGIOUS ACTION TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AFFECTED BY MIGRATION WITH A FOCUS ON EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA ii Authors: Susanna Trotta (Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities [JLI]), Christine Fashugba (UNICEF), Johanne Kjaersgaard (UNICEF/Princeton), Mario Mosquera (UNICEF), Olivia Wilkinson (JLI). Reviewers: Kerida McDonald (UNICEF), Anna Knutzen (UNICEF), Seforosa Carroll (WCC), Frederique Seidel (WCC), Jean Duff (JLI). Suggested Citation: Trotta, S., Fashugba, C., Kjaersgaard, J., Mosquera, M., Wilkinson, O., (2021). From Faith to Action: Inter-religious action to protect the rights of children affected by migration with a focus on Europe and Central Asia. UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office and Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities: Geneva and Washington DC. Project Leads: Mario Mosquera (UNICEF), Olivia Wilkinson (JLI). Cover photo credit: UNICEF/UN012796/Georgiev Acknowledgements This publication is part of a collaboration between the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the World Council of Churches (WCC), and the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI). We are grateful for the contribution of the three case study organizations highlighted in this publication, Apostoli, Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization, and Zentralrat der Muslime in Deutschland. iv list of Acronyms CCME Churches Commission for Migration in Europe ECARO Europe and Central Asia Regional Office EHO Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization in Serbia FBO faith-based organization ICMC International Catholic Migration Commission JLI Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities NGO non-governmental organization SAR search and rescue UASC unaccompanied and separated children UNICEF United Nations Childrens Fund WCC World Council of Churches ZMD Zentralrat der Muslime in Deutschland list of boxes Box 1 - The Humanitarian Corridors Initiative, Italy Box 2 - The Vaiz, Turkey Box 3 - Learning to Live Together: Arigatou Foundation, Interfaith Council on Ethics Education for Children, and Global Network of Religions for Children Box 4 - Refugees Hosting Refugees Box 5 - Ecumenical assistance for asylum seekers: Oekumenischer Seelsorgedienst fr Asylsuchende, Switzerland Box 6 - Search for Common Ground against violent extremism among young returnees, Kyrgyzstan Box 7 - Goda Grannar (Good Neighbours), Sweden Box 8 - Faith Over Fear movement supported by UNICEF and Religions for Peace From Faith to Action v contents Acknowledgements iii List of acronyms iv List of boxes iv Executive Summary 1 Introduction 2 Situation Analysis Summary 3 Faith Activities to Support Children on the Move 5 Promising Practice Case Study #1: Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization, Serbia 12 Promising Practice Case Study #2: Apostoli, Greece 16 Promising Practice Case Study #3: Central Council of Muslims, Germany 20 Glossary 24 Annex 1 - Legal and Political Framework 25 Annex 2 - Country-specific information 28 Endnotes 33 UNICEF/UNI197534/Gilbertson VII Photo From Faith to Action 1 executive summAry Five main areas in which faith actors have a positive impact on children on the move in Europe and Central Asia1. Providing assistance for children on the move along safe and unsafe migration routes, and when they arrive. For example, faith actors perform or fund search and rescue (SAR) operations, establish safe and legal routes for children to travel (e.g., humanitarian corridors), and provide shelter, food, and legal advice and other essential services for children and their families. 2. Facilitating integration and social inclusion by enhancing access to social services (particularly education) and bringing host communities and newcomers closer together by fostering empathy, cultivating welcoming practices, and identifying shared spaces. 3. Offering spiritual and psychosocial support that can enhance resilience, sustain a sense of belonging, and facilitate the process of migration and integration. 4. Fostering social cohesion, combating xenophobia and discrimination, promoting inter-religious dialogue, speaking out for peaceful coexistence, and addressing the root causes of conflict that have forcibly displaced children and families. 5. Advocacy to influence decision-makers towards more inclusive approaches in response to the displacement of children and families. Strategies include building inter-religious coalitions for advocacy, using their influence to speak to policymakers on migration, and advocating for the rights of children and for governments and communities to welcome refugees and migrants. This publication aims to highlight the actual and potential roles of faith actors in contributing towards an effective and holistic response to child displacement in Europe and Central Asia. These roles range from providing shelter and other material support to fostering psychosocial and spiritual wellbeing, speaking out against xenophobia, promoting peaceful coexistence, and influencing policymakers to protect the rights of children on the move. While it must be recognised that faith actors have also played negative roles, this publication aims primarily to serve as a useful tool to improve cooperation between faith actors and other stakeholders, such as UNICEF and national authorities, in the protection of children and youth on the move. This publication aims to highlight the actual and potential roles of faith actors in contributing towards an effective and holistic response to child displacement in Europe and Central Asia. We developed this publication through an extensive review of academic articles, research reports, conference reports, and other documents focusing on key issues affecting young refugee and migrants and on the roles of faith actors in supporting children on the move. This publication is organized into an introductory section, a central section underlining different areas in which faith actors are engaged with some remarks on challenges and opportunities, and a final section highlighting three case studies with faith-based organizations (FBOs) working with children and youth on the move in Germany, Greece, and Serbia. This publication illustrates a plurality of ways in which faith actors actively support children and youth on the move, namely, by ensuring their protection and social inclusion, providing spiritual and psychosocial support, countering xenophobia and discrimination, and advocating for policy changes. 2 introduction This publication emerges from discussions in Europe and Central Asia about the role of faith actors in protecting children on the move. The content was developed in preparation for the conference From Faith to Action: Inter-religious action to protect the rights of children affected by migration with a focus on Europe and Central Asia held online on 10-11 December 2020. The primary topics include the need to safeguard and protect children, the realities of migration and forced displacement, inter-religious cooperation and the roles of faith actors, and how these threads intersect in the Europe and Central Asia region. The publication starts with some key facts and figures on the current situation of migrants and children on the move in Europe and Central Asia. We have also included information on the impact of COVID-19 in the region. The first section ends with an overview of key issues affecting children on the move and their families. The second section presents an overview of faith-based engagements with children on the move in Europe and Central Asia. It is structured in five subsections: Faith actors support to provide protection for children on the move. Social inclusion and access to social services. Spiritual and psychosocial support for children on the move. Faith actors efforts to combat xenophobia and foster peaceful societies. The role of faith actors in policy and advocacy. These subsections build on previous work, including the Faith Action for Children on the Move forum held in Rome in 20181 and the Faith and Positive Change for Children, Families and Communities Initiative (FPCC)2, a collaboration between UNICEF, the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities (JLI), and Religions for Peace. The From Faith to Action initiative is built on the principle that a child is a child, and reinforces the principle of the best interest of the child. The next section highlights challenges and opportunities for discussion during the conference, and focuses on the five main thematic areas indicated. The publication also includes a glossary and annexes citing relevant legal and policy documents and country-specific information. The final section includes three case studies. The first one, developed with the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization, focuses on their work in providing material and psychosocial support to children on the move in Serbia. The second one, developed with Apostoli, illustrates their engagements towards the inclusion of youth on the move in Greece. The last one, developed with the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, describes their activities, including policy and advocacy efforts, to foster social cohesion and mutual support between established communities and newcomers. From Faith to Action 3 situAtion AnAlysis summAry in family incomes. Cuts in remittances may cause children and youth to drop out of school and seek work, migrate, or put them at risk of child marriage or trafficking.7 Social distancing restrictions may further impede the limited education opportunities that may be available to most displaced children.8 The lack of devices or stable internet access can be a barrier to online learning. 9 As governments tighten border controls and impose stricter health requirements on new arrivals, some have been criticized for using COVID-19 as an excuse to toughen immigration policies, suspend asylum procedures, and retreat from international legal obligations to rescue and provide safety as has been the case for many refugee and migrants crossing the Mediterranean.10 Some nationalist and populist voices see refugees as transmission threats and push for hard-line immigration policies, feeding into populist rhetoric in fear of the other.11 At the same time, responses to COVID-19 have also played unifying role. Advocacy and humanitarian organizations continue to push for a narrative that sees the pandemic as an opportunity to expand health care and social protections for refugees and migrants.12 Multilingual information dissemination, including health and public safety instruction, has become common practice in several European countries.13 Key issues faced by children on the move and their familiesExploitation (including online exploitation), smuggling and trafficking Children on the move are exposed to great risks and are vulnerable to trafficking, smuggling and various forms of exploitation.14 Around 75% of 14 to 17-year-old refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa to Italy experience exploitative practices such as arbitrary detention or forced labour.15 Since digital tools are especially important for children who travel unaccompanied or separated from family, they are at high risk of online exploitation.16 In 2020, an estimated 94,800 refugees and migrants arrived Europe from countries as diverse as Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Morocco, Tunisia, and Syria. Nearly one in every five (18.5%)1, was a child. At the end of 2020, there were some 60,000 refugee and migrant children in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, and Serbia. Among them were 12,000 unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) whose lives depended on humanitarian assistance. UNICEF and partners worked tirelessly to reach approximately 51,000 refugee and migrant children with a range of support2 to protect their health and well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic certainly affected the influx of refugees and migrants into Europe. UNICEF and humanitarian partners had to adapt quickly to the fast-moving situation across the Europe and Central Asia region, and ensure that children were prioritized in procedures related to disembarkation and accommodation. The European Union (EU) registered a 33% overall decrease in the number asylum applications. However, the decrease was not evenly spread across Europe, and many local communities received unexpectedly large surges of new arrivals3. The pandemic raised many additional concerns about the health and safety of children and families. Refugee and migrants living close together have often faced a double lockdown with additional restrictions imposed on their confinement in settlements and camps, that compounded their stress and isolation. As classroom learning adapted to online modalities, a major challenge was connecting refugee and migrant children to education opportunities when access to Internet technology and digital devices was very difficult. The impact of COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has created additional stress on humanitarian supply chains3 and heightened risks faced by displaced populations. Children and families often live in overcrowded settings4 with limited access to clean water, hygiene and other basic services,5 and are often excluded from access to information.6 Displaced children and youth are witnessing a decline 1 UNHCR data for Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Spain as of 31 December 2020. Operational Portal Refugee Situations: Mediterranean situation, 2 UNICEF Refugee and Migrant Response in Europe Humanitarian Situation Report 2020 No. 38 3 https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/promoting-our-european-way-life/statistics-migration-europe_en Of the 94,800 refugees and migrants who arrived in Europe in 2020, nearly one in five was a child. 4 Obstacles to family reunificationUnaccompanied and separated children (UASC) form a significant percentage of children on the move.17 Although all children have the right to be with their families or guardians, obstacles to family reunification are common.18 Family reunification processes may impose, for example, increased income requirements, expensive medical tests, restrictions on who can apply, and long waits under the Dublin regulations.19 Detention of refugee and migrant childrenEnding detention of refugee and migrant children is one of the priorities of the international community.20 However, in there was an increase in the number of immigration detentions of children arriving in Europe.21 Urgent measures that are being called for include scaling up of efforts to end new detentions, the release of child detainees into non-custodial and community-based alternatives, and the improvement of conditions in detention centres where alternative measures are not possible.22 Access to healthcare Children need to live in a safe environment and should have continuous access to quality healthcare. In unsafe and overcrowded living conditions, children are often exposed to heightened risks of contracting COVID-19 or the inability to access health services such as vaccination.23 Access to educationA quarter of children who arrived in Europe through the Central or the Eastern Mediterranean routes in 2017 had not completed any formal education, while a further 33% had only attended primary school.24 For children on the move, access to education is crucial to overcome cultural and linguistic barriers. However, most reception centres often do not have learning facilities or teaching personnel. Discrimination and xenophobiaNationalistic, xenophobic, misogynistic, and explicitly anti-human rights agendas of many populist political leaders have required human rights proponents to rethink many longstanding assumptions. Highly politicised narratives that support pushback operations and restrictive policies fuel xenophobic sentiments, putting children at risk of experiencing violence and discrimination.25 Preventing and combating xenophobia and discrimination against young refugees and migrants is crucial in efforts aimed at protecting their rights, fostering their livelihoods, ensuring access to health and education services26 and overcoming language barriers that severely affect their social inclusion.27 UNICEF/UNI309268/Onat From Faith to Action 5 fAith Activities to support children on the move Given this framework of compassion and a history of providing front-line support to vulnerable communities, it is no surprise that many governments, as well as local, national and international organizations have chosen to engage with faith actors as key partners in responding to the refugee and migration crisis in Europe and elsewhere in the world. In this section, we explore some of the ways in which religious leaders, faith communities, and FBOs are providing protection and spiritual support for children on the move, combatting xenophobia, helping to build peaceful societies and advocate for the rights of young refugees and migrants. i. Faith actors support to provide protection for children on the moveFaith actors contribute to enhancing child protection in multiple ways. In this section, they are outlined according to migration stages, i.e., along migration There is a consensus across religious traditions about the dignity of every child.28 The fundamental principle of respect for human life is found in religions that believe all human beings, including children, deserve to be respected and treated with dignity, and forms the basis of faith-based motivations to support children on the move.29 Religious groups, institutions and practitioners have a long and proud history of protecting vulnerable migrants and families, persecuted individuals, and unaccompanied children. Under Canon Law in Medieval times, anyone who feared for their life could find sanctuary in the closest church.30 In Europe, Belgian nuns rescued young Jews from the Nazis in the World War II,31 and Hungarian refugees found shelter and assistance in churches in Austria and elsewhere during and after the 1956-57 crisis.32 UNICEF/UN020042/Gilbertson VII Photo 6 routes and after arrival. Overall, safe and legal routes for displaced people, including children, are narrowing. For a long time, faith actors have been involved in campaigning for, organizing, and implementing sponsorship programmes for refugees. In Canada, FBOs have been a strongly involved in the private sponsorship system,33 and similar initiatives have been established in other countries. In 2016, an ecumenical initiative in Italy (see box 1) worked in collaboration with the government to grant a number of exceptional humanitarian visas to create a humanitarian corridor for refugees stranded in Lebanon and other countries to come to Italy. This initiative expanded to other European countries such as France, Belgium and Andorra.34 Recently, the Community of SantEgidio signed an agreement with the German government to transfer refugee and migrant families from the Greek island of Samos to Germany35 and inaugurated a new corridor from Lesvos to Italyprioritising families and unaccompanied minors.36 Box 1 - The Humanitarian Corridors Initiative, Italy37 Humanitarian Corridors is a small-scale initiative run by the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy (FCEI), the Tavola Valdese of the Waldensian Church and the Community of SantEgidio in cooperation with the Ministries of the Interior and of Foreign Affairs in Italy. The FBOs and the Government define the programme as establishing a legal and safe alternative to deadly sea routes, smuggling, and trafficking. Over a two-year period, the initiative enabled 1,000 visas to be granted to refugees who qualified as being in particularly vulnerable conditions. Among them were babies as young as five days old.38 Authorities have afforded FBOs with flexibility in the selection of the programmes beneficiaries while meeting government security requirements. Beneficiaries were selected independently from their ethnicity or religion. FBOs provided funding for accommodation and services for the reception of refugees during their initial period of permanent settlement in Italy. Additionally, in instances where the timeframe for the application for international protection was potentially very tight, FBOs negotiated with the state to obtain extensions. Through this initiative FBOs have, arguably, created privileged channels within the asylum application in Italy, that favours asylum seekers who have access to the programme. However, this privileged position also works as an avenue for lobbying towards the improvement of the Italian asylum system in general. Displaced people are often exposed to hardship along migration routes. Faith communities and FBOs are among the first to provide assistance, from the distribution of food to the provision of shelter and legal advice, especially to vulnerable groups like children. All faiths share a tradition of providing sanctuary and assistance to strangers. This tradition lives in multiple forms today,39 and is often characterised by a multi-religious configuration, as in the case of the City of Sanctuary UK movement.40 In Germany, Kirchenasyl, a highly organized network of churches41, is ready to host refugees and migrants who risk of being deported. However, in recent years, this network has been under pressure from the German government with ongoing legal challenges, and shrinking numbers of people who have access to church asylum.42 All faiths share a tradition of providing sanctuary and assistance to strangers. In Hungary, Catholic and Lutheran Bishops mobilised against the anti-refugee narrative by hosting families and individuals on the move, and providing legal advice, translation services, and assistance in finding work.43 However, this help has been curtailed since Hungary passed a law in favour of detaining asylum seekers while their status is being determined.44 ii. Social inclusion and access to social servicesEducation is key to building peaceful societies. Faith actors play a significant role in education globally,45 including providing education to children on the move in formal and informal contexts. Catch-up classes, language classes, and activities supported by volunteers from the faith community are often key to social inclusion and integration.46 Faith actors, at times, associate schooling with peace building and with the prevention of trafficking and exploitation of children.47 Jesuit Relief Services have highlighted the importance of providing education for refugee girls.48 However, there is also evidence that education from religious institutions has sometimes been influenced by politicisation and securitisation, and this highlights the need for teachers to receive training and support on issues such as countering extremism.49 Since the onset of the pandemic, online education and increased dependence on digital technologies by children have heightened the risk of online exploitation. Religions for Peace and ECPAT International have issued guidance for religious leaders on how to protect children from online sexual exploitation.50 From Faith to Action 7 Faith and Positive Change for Children offers guidance documents for religious leaders, faith communities and FBOs to help address challenges in the times of COVID-19 for example, adapting rituals, helping those at risk, and combating misinformation.51 The World Council of Churches has issued guidance52 that gives practical advice encouraging members to trust evidence-based guidance on COVID-19 safety, for example, following physical distancing and using technology to conduct religious services. Box 2 - The Vaiz of Bursa, Turkey53 Turkey hosts 3.6 million refugees the highest number of any country worldwide.54 In Bursa, the government mobilises the Vaiz, a network of state preachers, to support displaced people. The Vaiz provides direct services, delivers welcoming messages to positively influence the local faith community, advocates with the Government to to let Syrians refugees access healthcare, school, and other social services,55 and sponsors refugee children and youth events in the local community.56 More significantly, the state preachers have also used their influence to overcome bureaucratic and legal hurdles to the issuing of birth certificates and wedding registrations for displaced people who do not have the necessary paperwork.57 May countries had to divert and prioritise healthcare staff and resources to treat the sick and fight the spread of COVID-19. As a result, basic health services, including routine childhood immunization, were often temporarily suspended.58 As these services resume, faith actors can play crucial roles in supporting immunization uptake and countering anti-vaccination narratives, including religious objections, as illustrated by numerous studies.59 Religious beliefs and practices can foster wellbeing and support the integration of refugee and migrant children on the move. A recent study found that young Coptic Christians in Italy highly valued their sense of belonging to their faith community, both in terms of the religious freedom in Italy and as cultural and religious identity.60 Similarly, a study conducted in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK explained how religion can be beneficial to the social integration of Muslim migrants with their own faith/ethnic community and does not hamper integration with broader society.61 A survey conducted among churches in 19 European countries in 2014-2015 revealed that one-third had between one in 20 and one in five young members with a migration background.62 Box 3 - Learning to Live Together: Arigatou Foundation, Interfaith Council on Ethics Education for Children, and Global Network of Religions for Children63 The Global Network of Religions for Children, the Arigatou Foundation and the Interfaith Council on Ethics Education for Children in collaboration with UNICEF, UNESCO, and education professionals and academics, including those from different religious traditions, developed a methodology to foster peaceful coexistence and mutual respect in interfaith and intercultural contexts. The methodology is used in both formal (e.g., schools) and informal (e.g., refugee camps) contexts and includes activities, interfaith prayers for peace, feedback mechanisms and learning modules on different themes. In Greece, a similar programme named Learning to Play Together64 has been developed using physical education and sports to engage young refugees and migrants who come from different geographic, cultural, religious and linguistic contexts. iii. Spiritual and psychosocial support for children on the moveResearch indicates how spirituality can contribute to the resilience of children during and after their displacement.66 Fostering resilience is particularly important for children who experience and are exposed to stress, risks and violence during their migration processit includes developing a sense of belonging, acknowledging the importance of education and schooling, and connecting with the community.67 Faith actors support this resilience through the provision of community, space, and resources for sustained and holistic care. Often, these spaces are designed to aid children in finding their place in society and their identity within the faith communities by offering them psychosocial and spiritual support. Another component in the building of childrens identities is the ongoing incorporation of faith into psychosocial and resilience programs,68 which provide coping strategies for children on the move.69 8 Box 4 - Refugees Hosting Refugees Recent research has focused on hosts, refugees and refugee hosts (i.e., refugees hosting other refugees). Research from University College London65 examines the roles that members of local faith communities, faith leaders and FBOs can play in promoting social justice and social integration for refugees living in Cameroon, Greece, Malaysia, Mexico, and Lebanon. The study found that in Greece, members of refugee communities collect and distribute material support for other refugees, including baskets to break the fast during the holy month of Ramadan. Box 5 - Ecumenical assistance for asylum seekers: Oekumenischer Seelsorgedienst fr Asylsuchende (OeSA), Switzerland70 OeSA is an ecumenical organization reflecting a collaboration between the Methodist Church, the Reformed Church and the Catholic Church in Basel, Switzerland. OeSA offers several services to asylum seekers of any (or no) faith and any country of origin, including psychosocial and spiritual support during Refugee Status Determination (RSD). OeSA is also a place where asylum seekers can meet, take German lessons, attend music workshops, and where their children can attend activities organized twice a week.71 Volunteers working for this initiative are also of different religious and cultural backgrounds [who can] easily share the motivating vision and the working style of the organization.72 The sensitivity of OeSA workers towards faith-related issues has allowed them, for instance, to negotiate extra permits for Muslim asylum seekers who are staying in Registration and Procedure Centres (RPCs)73 to stay in the mosque longer during Ramadan. Working with the childrens faith communities can help achieve integration and long-term wellbeing.74 When building resilience and providing comprehensive psychological support for children on the move, it may be necessary for faith-based organizations and local faith communities to provide support to parents, caregivers and other adults in the childrens lives. This is fundamental when responding to the needs of traumatised children. iv. Faith actors efforts to combat xenophobia and discrimination and to foster peaceful coexistenceThe role of faith actors in the Global Compact for Refugees has been recognized within the plans of several anti-discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance measures and programs. Peer-to-peer workshops that bring together a particular group, for example, young people, new arrivals, or members of a faith community with a similar migration background can be used to strengthen such initiatives. In this way, relationships of trust create a safe environment to address issues such as religious prejudice, discrimination, and extremismfaith actors often become the main points of reference for displaced minors.75 Multi-religious initiatives can play a pivotal role in integration processes in countries of arrivals. The European Council of Religious Leaders and University of Winchester Centre of Religion, Reconciliation and Peace analysed case studies featuring the cooperation of at least two organizations belonging to different religious traditions in Germany, Poland, Sweden (see box 8), and the UK. 83 The study counters the idea that faith actors only support communities of their own religious tradition, and outlines potential benefits of multi-religious cooperation in integration processes by achieving shared objectives through enhanced dialogue, and combating racism and radicalisation.84 UNICEF/UN0354305/Canaj/Magnum Photos From Faith to Action 9 Box 6 - The work of Search for Common Ground against violent extremism among young returnees, Kyrgyzstan76 In Kyrgyzstan, youth radicalisation,77 especially among labour migrants and returnees, is a key issue.78 Search for Common Ground has been engaged in several programmes to prevent and combat violent extremism in the country. In 2016-2017, in partnership with the State Commission on Religious Affairsm (SCRA), the group implemented a project that used social media as a tool for deradicalization targeted and included young people, including returnees from Syria. An evaluation of the project suggested that, as a result, youth participants, as well as grant recipients, expanded their knowledge about radicalisation, extremism, and fanaticism, and gained skills in critical thinking and problem-solving.79 In 2018, the youth-led project called #JashStan80, supported by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, produced a reality television series turning violent and radical discourse into tolerance and peaceful coexistence. In July 2020, Search for Common Ground announced that the European Union Instrument Contributing to Stability and Peace (EUIcSP) would support a two-year project,81 which will draw on its research on the risks of radicalisation and violent extremism among Central Asian migrant workers in Russia. The project will engage religious and traditional leaders and include psychosocial support.82 Xenophobia and discrimination against refugees based on religion, nationality and ethnicity are on the rise across the region.89 To combat stigma and discrimination, faith actors promote sensitisation and advocate against xenophobic mind-sets, as well as working to protect refugees directly from discriminatory experiences and attacks.90 Public condemnation of xenophobic threats or attacks by religious leaders can have significant effects on faith communities and support efforts to eradicate, or, create further partnerships to counter the violence.91 Faith communities, particularly those that participate in interfaith initiatives can also be instrumental in reconciliation and healing following a conflict.92 Local faith actors and interfaith councils can provide expertise within countries of origin to address root causes of conflict and displacement. They can help remove obstacles to return and address issues of reintegration in the country of originespecially when tensions among religious and ethnic groups are still present.93 Box 7 - Goda Grannar (Good Neighbours), Sweden This multi-religious collaboration between the Stockholm Mosque, the Katarina parish and Islamic Relief started in 2015, as a makeshift shelter for transit migrants. It later became a much more multifaceted initiative, offering asylum seekers a wide range of services, from language cafs to counselling on issues such as employment, education and healthcare.85 In particular, they support newly arrived families with young children to find preschool and activities to help them create a network in their new community. After initial scepticism shown by some members of the local faith communities,86 the collaboration has proved to be successful and has grown in numbers and even expanded to other districts and faith actors, such as the Syrian Orthodox Church and the Negashi Mosque.87 In addition to the more practical work on integration, members of different faith communities have started a dialogue about their religious beliefs, traditions and values through this project, which has led to improved social relationships.88 v. Faith actors and policy/advocacyFaith actors are often part of networked organizations that allow them to have a strong impact within the international arena. For instance, Eurodiaconia is a European network of 52 churches and Christian NGOs94 who are active in many areas, including migration and forced displacement. The network organizes events at the European level, and recently, published the report, Fostering Cooperation Between Local Authorities and Civil Society Actors in the Integration and Social Inclusion of Migrants and Refugees,95 on the European Commissions European Web Site on Integration (EWSI), which consolidates information and good practices. Eurodiaconia recommends strengthening multi-stakeholder platforms and using transparent monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. It also suggests promoting mutual knowledge exchange among all stakeholders involved, including migrants. In April 2020, 67 NGOs and FBOs (including the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), Caritas, and HIAS Greece) signed a letter, urgently requesting the relocation of displaced children stranded in Greece to other EU member states.96 In September 2020, a wide alliance (including Caritas Europe, the Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME), the European Council on Refugees and 10 Exiles, the ICMC, the International Rescue Committee, the Red Cross, and the SHARE Network) released an advocacy statement to the European Commission on the situation of migrants and refugees in Europe.97 The alliance asked for a more equitable sharing of responsibility in responding to the needs of people on the move and for safe and legal passages to Europe.98 Faith actors, at times, have been excluded from decision-making processes on migration at the policy level. Recently, however, governments and international organizations are more aware of the roles that faith actors play in responding to migration and forced displacement. In the 2018 Global Compacts on Refugees and on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration faith actors were included as relevant stakeholders. Box 8 - Faith Over Fear movement supported by UNICEF and Religions for Peace109 UNICEF and Religions for Peace in 2017, launched the movement, Faith Over Feara global multi-religious advocacy initiative. Its aim is to spread positive messages about migration and faith to promote a welcoming culture towards displaced people among faith communities. One example from Germany (provided by the WCCs Churches Commitments to Children for this campaign) is a video110 telling the story of a Christian retired couple from Bonn who met two Syrian Muslim refugees at a local church. As their friendship became stronger, the German couple decided to host the Syrians, several weeks before they had their first child. They ended up living together for over eight months and now feel that they belong to the same extended family, celebrating Ramadan and Christmas together.111 The campaign also features a social media toolkit112 to facilitate the engagement of religious leaders and faith communities who are willing to share their stories of choosing faith over fear. A number of faith actors made recommendations during the development of the Compacts. The Interfaith Conference on the Global Compacts on Migration and Refugees brought together faith actors and policymakers and called for a greater acknowledgement of the roles played by FBOs.99 The JLI published a policy brief100 on Faith Actors and the Implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees, outlining issues, examples and recommendations of burden and responsibility sharing, reception and admission, meeting needs and supporting communities, and durable solutions. Faith actors are often part of networks making a strong impact in the international arena. Since the Global Compacts were adopted, faith actors have released statements on the importance of following their principles and guidelines, and faith communities have been urged to act to assist migrants and refugees accordingly.101 The 2019 Local Humanitarian Leadership forum in Beirut, Lebanon, emphasized that engaging local faith actors is in line with the commitments of the Global Compacts on Migration and on Refugees.102 The forum emphasized the need to localize assistance to migrants and refugees by effectively engaging local faith actors.103 Faith actors are often involved in advocacy efforts on issues affecting children on the move. They organize themselves in coalitions and take part in multi-religious campaigns, such as campaigning against the detention of children due to their immigration status104 or family separation,105 and support the right to birth registration.106 Faith actors use their influence to foster peaceful coexistence and combat violence in the name of religion through advocacy initiatives. They use statements to declare unity and speak out against xenophobia, such as the Athens Declaration, United Against Violence in the Name of ReligionSupporting the Citizenship Rights of Christians, Muslims and Other Religious and Ethnic Groups in the Middle East. 107 During the 2015-2016 refugee and migrant crisis in Europe, many religious leaders, faith actors and multi-faith alliances mobilised to push for a welcoming response and to fight against hostile populist reactions. For instance, in the UK, a multi-religious coalition of over 200 Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist and Hindu religious leaders reacted to the refugee and migrant crisis by issuing an open letter108 to the then Prime Minister, Theresa May. They urged the government to establish legal routes for refugees from Syria and other countries, especially for those who had family in the UK. The study Faith and Childrens Rights, conducted by Arigatou International in collaboration with the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) and World Vision International, collected recommendations for action from religious leaders, child rights advocates, and children themselves. Participants demonstrated that the deepening of faith actors understanding of childrens rights may help communities to see the common ground between rights and religion, leading to the formation of fruitful partnerships. Such ideas can be incorporated into sermons and activities in religious communities. Faith actors can refer to legal agreements such as the Convention on the Rights of From Faith to Action 11 the Child and use the power of its mandate as a tool to advance initiatives that support children and families in their communities.113 The expertise of faith actors can significantly strengthen policy concerning the criteria for resettlement and engagement with host communities to guarantee welcome and protection of unaccompanied or separated children. This will also ensure to put in place special measures to counter risky transit and post-arrival integration, including education and trauma healing. Such endeavours can assist in counteracting negative responses to resettlement and ensuring effective integration processes.114 Opportunities and ChallengesAs this publication illustrates, engaging faith actors can result in more effective responses to the vulnerabilities of displaced children. To summarise, faith actors can contribute to: Assisting children on the move along migration routes. This includes performing or funding SAR operations, engaging in the creation and implementation of safe and legal routes, and providing basic services such as shelter, food and legal advice to children on the move and their families after arrival. Offering spiritual and psychosocial support that can enhance childrens resilience to sustain their sense of belonging and support them through their migration process. Facilitating integration and social inclusion by enhancing access to social services (in particular education) and promoting empathy, welcoming practices and shared space between the host community and the newcomers. Fostering social cohesion and inter-religious dialogue to combat xenophobia and discrimination. Advocating for and influencing policy makers towards more inclusive response approaches to displaced children and their families. Some challenges have also emerged from this review of faith actors engagements in response to the displacement of children and their families. In particular: Faith actors support can be hampered by legal challenges. For example, the legal cases against Kirchenasyl (church asylum) in Germany and the increasing detention of asylum seekers in Hungary. They require help to combat the criminalisation of migrants support. Faith actors, especially faith communities, are often heterogeneous and complex entities, which can have internal tensions and challenges. These need to be identified, and, if possible, addressed through dialogue. Recognition of the plurality and nuanced nature of faith actors is critical to avoid stereotyping. Some faith actors might lack institutional capacity required by common humanitarian standards to implement large-scale refugee response projects. When collaboration is established between international organizations and local and national faith actors that there can be opportunities for enhanced visibility, mutual understanding, finding points of complementarity, and capacity sharing. Faith actors and their activities are not exempt from politicisation. For example, they can fuel anti-migrant sentiments to ensure the support of political actors. Their engagement can also be instrumental in achieving other actors political agenda. To establish a long-term relationship of trust with key local faith actors, these factors need to be taken into consideration and addressed through in-depth knowledge of the local political context and trust building in the partnership. Recognition of the plurality and nuanced nature of faith actors is critical. 12 promising prActice cAse study #1: ecumenicAl humAnitAriAn orgAnizAtion, serbiA EHOs work in Serbia is multifaceted. It ranges from fostering the inclusion and empowerment of marginalised groups such as the Roma community116 and supporting children and the elderly117 to peacebuilding work with young people from different ethnic and faith communities.118 Since 2015, EHO has been assisting migrants and refugees in transit through Serbia.119 Part of this engagement focused on children on the move and access to education in particular. A previous project120 on social inclusion, now concluded, specifically addressed the needs of children on the move by supporting their inclusion in local schools through training local teachers in intercultural work to promote welcoming approaches and counter prejudice and discrimination. This previous project focussing on inclusion was financially supported by Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER)121 and implemented in partnership with the local government. Building on it, EHO started a new project in 2019 called Empowerment of Refugee 1. The Ecumenical Humanitarian Organizations work with children and women on the move in SerbiaThe Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization (EHO) is a development organization guided by Christian ethical values. A member of Act Alliance,115 it was founded in 1993 in Novi Sad, Serbia, on the initiative of the World Council of Churches (WCC). The founding churches are the Slovak Evangelical A.B. church in Serbia, the Serbian Reformed Christian church, the Apostolic Exarchate for Greek Catholics in Serbia and Montenegro and the Evangelic Christian A.B. church in Serbia-Vojvodina. The ecumenical nature of the organization is unique in Serbia. It contributes to the expansion of its engagement, both in terms of areas and type of intervention as well as in geographical terms within Serbia. For EHO, respect for human rights and the dignity of all people is a core value. UNICEF/UNI220347/Pancic From Faith to Action 13 Women and Children, financially supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), which is the main focus of his case study. 2. The context: Children and youth on the move in SerbiaUNHCR data on Serbia reflecting mixed migration movements from January until 27 September 2020 shows that, after a sharp drop in arrivals between April and the beginning of June, the number of arrivals rose considerably. During the whole period, 1,129 unaccompanied minorsaround 84% of which were maleentered the territory.122 According to the latest data (September 2020) from UNHCR and the Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migration (hereinafter Commissariat),123 Serbia currently hosts almost 26,000 refugees, 197,000 IDPs, and around 1,900 people at risk of statelessness. The number of people living in some of the Asylum Centres (AC) and Reception and Transit Centres (RTC) around the country has been growing in the last months. For example, a UNHCR assessment of the sites from August 2020 reported that the Sombor RTC was operating at full capacity with 753 people (of which 10% were children).124 The numbers rose to 854 by the end of August and to 1,141 at the end of September.125 Serbia is one of the countries in the Balkan region where the effects of restrictive policies on border crossings are more visible. In September 2020, the number of migrants and refugees who were pushed back from neighbouring states (3,115) was more significant than the number of arrivals, and the highest since UNHCR started monitoring them in 2016.126 In September, the total number of migrants and refugees hosted in RTCs or ACs in the country was 5,064526 were children, including 174 unaccompanied minors.127 Numerous sources have identified a significant increase in violent border enforcement practices and pushback operations in the areas close to the borders to Hungary and Croatia, where EHO operates.128 Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic until the beginning of November, Serbia had 55,676 confirmed cases and 861 deaths.129 The COVID-19 crisis worsened the situation for many refugees and migrants. A 2020 report by Save the Children highlighted how physical distancing is virtually impossible in often overcrowded transit centres in the Western Balkans.130 Due to further restrictions on freedom of movement, only a few NGOs were allowed to keep working inside RTCs and ACs.131 New rules on sanitization and the use of masks were introduced in all centres.132 Children on the move, and especially unaccompanied minors, have faced and continue to face several obstacles to their right to educationfrom language barriers and lack of documents necessary for enrolment to adequately trained teachers.133 However, in the last years, several efforts have been made to ensure access to education for children in RTCs and ACs centres in Serbia.134 For instance, a transportation service for children living in a reception centre and attending a local school was organized by IOM Serbia in collaboration with the Commissariat and funded by the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis and the MADAD Fund.135 Moreover, before the second lockdown began, several children living in RTCs and ACswith the support of UNCHR Serbiahad either started going to school or received vouchers for the purchase of books and other school materials.136 3. EHOs Empowerment of Refugee Women and Children ProgramBuilding on the social inclusion project described in Section 1, the program Empowerment of Refugee Women and Children137 is currently implemented by EHO in the RTCs of id, near the border to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Sombor, near the border to Hungary. The geographical position of both camps plays an important
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