Prevention of Negative Effects of Economic Migration on Children and the Transnational Family

1. Prevention of negative Effects of Economic Migration on Children and the Transnational Family Silvia Dumitrache, President,Association of Romanian Women in Italy/Donne Romene în Italia (ADRI) Member of Romanian Women’s Lobby/LEF Italia - Coordinamentoitalianodella Lobby Europea

2. Prevention of negative Effects of Economic Migration • on Children and the Transnational Family Context: over 4 million Romanians work abroad Alarming statistics: Romania has lost 2 million women in the past 2 years Romanians in Italy: 1.168.552 out of which 670.975 (57%) women Women mostly work in home based care and agriculture Men mostly work in construction and agriculture Home alone elderly in Romania: 1 million 750000 Romanian children out of 5 million (15%) have experienced having at least one parent abroad for long time 300000 Romanian children have at least one parent abroad (mostly mothers) Over 100 suicide cases among children with parents working abroad Romania ranks first in minor motherhood 5 out of 10 fresh mothers have never been to medical checks

3. Prevention of negative Effects of Economic Migration on Children and the Transnational Family General Objective: Preventing the negative effects of migration on the development of children left home and on adults working abroad Specific Objective: Facilitation of active connection between children and parents leaving abroad by provision of accessible support services (free online platforms, psychosocial counselling, information, legal advice, parenting etc.) This is a concrete initiative aimed at increasing the family cohesion and increase awareness of the family and community on the phenomenon of children left alone by parents migrating for work. This project will enhance the equilibrium of persons leaving and working away from their home country and will increase their awareness on the risks

4. Prevention of negative Effects of Economic Migration on Children and the Transnational Family Problems: Professional disease and illness affecting mothers and children Since 2005 the medical term “Italy Sindrom” has been coined as a deep depression syndrome emerging upon the return of the people working abroad to their home country, endangering their health and their children’s health and safety Separation of children from one or both parents leads to feelings of abandonment; 100 children suicide cases have been attributed to the separation of parents (the real number might be higher).

5. Prevention of negative Effects of Economic Migration on Children and the Transnational Family Problems: Behavior deviation of left alone children due to distance family relations c. Increased risk of children with parents working abroad to join criminal groups or become victim of criminal groups; personality development is affected and reflected in low levels of self-confidence, guilt, anxiety etc. d. Increased risk of school drop-out – in 2017 an approximate 200000 children have abandoned high-school; an annual increase of 13000 is reported e. Increased number of dispersed families f. Increased number of domestic violence and abuse.

6. Prevention of negative Effects of Economic Migration on Children and the Transnational Family Organizing campaigns in Romania and abroad to inform the Romanian citizens on the workplace security and risks of professional desease

7. Broadcasting of reportage, documentary films etc. on migration in general and work migration in particular Broadcasting by the Romanian Television the “Figli sospesi”reportage produced by the Italian National Television and viewed by over 1 million viewers in December 2014

8. Prevention of negative Effects of Economic Migration on Children and the Transnational Family Establishment of an institutional working group for identification of problems and solutions, funding sources and messages to diminish the distance between Romanians abroad and Romanians in the country in order to increase the level of empathy and solidarity, following the example of the Working Group on the Children with Parents Working Abroad established by the Romanian Presidency

9. Prevention of negative Effects of Economic Migration on Children and the Transnational Family Organization of conferences, seminars, exchange of good practices between Romanian and foreign institutions in countries where the number of Romanian residents is significant

10. Prevention of negative Effects of Economic Migration on Children and the Transnational Family • Encouraging video-conferences between teachers and parents • Facilitating the organization of holiday trips for the children to visit their mothers • Conducting studies to evaluate the real size of the home alone children phenomenon and the mothers working away from home • Online services for consultancy on work, psychological support, parenting, mediation of remote family relations

11. For details, structure, resources and proposals for alternaive policies on the campaign and the program : Silvia Dumitrache, Phone: +393343540648 Email: adri_milano@live.it