by Camilla Azzini
Children’s Rights in Action – Research in Spain
BY THE UNIVERSITY OF BARCELONA AND IReS FOUNDATION
In the framework of the project "Children's Rights in Action", coordinated by L'Albero della Vita Foundation and co-funded by the European Union's Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme
Research conducted from March 2011 on a sample of 251 Romanian families, 126 living in Madrid and 125 in the autonomous region of Catalonia.
Main findings of the reasearch:
• Migration is generally due to economic reasons. The first generation is the one who most wants to return to their country of origin. They describe the migration process as circumstantial and temporary.
• Compatriots’ support has a central role at the arrival, but it’s less relevant in comparison to that of the community network (co-workers, neighbors, fellow parents of school children). Language is a first difficulty but it does not represent an obstacle due to its similarities with Romance languages.
• The school integration is one of the key components in social inclusion and it is related to an inadequate link between school system conditions and the migration processes.
In Spain it is essential to promote social policies that provide the coexistence of migrants.
Many examples of good practices in Spain have been identified: The Pact for immigration, Environment Educations Plans and social host policies in Catalonia. The best practices at school need to be highlighted: the Integration Plan, the Welcome reception groups to new students, Intensive individualized Plan and Language, Intercultural and social Cohesion Programme.
Public social campaigns like those called “anti-rumors” help breaking stereotypes, there have been a proposal from civil society supported by local governments. In all cases the challenge is on the participation of Romanian people in the decisions and practices that affect themselves as citizens, through their organizations and those of other communities.