“The Smile of the Child” honors the International Migrants Day
18 December 2017
Every year on December 18, the world community marks the International Migrants Day. Migrants and refugees face exploitation and abuse as they flee their homes due to conflicts, instability, growing inequalities and a hope for a better life. Many are so desperate they are risking their lives by crossing dangerous routes and pathways.
Among women and men, thousands of children are also extremely vulnerable. Along these routes the criminals are waiting. Violence, abuse and trafficking are only some of the crimes faced by these movements as they seek sanctuary.
Greece is at the forefront of a global humanitarian crisis unfolding since 2015 following the mass movement of migrants and refugees who risked their lives and crossed the Aegean Sea in an effort to reach Europe and seek a better future in northern European countries.
The life of refugees has no value for the organized crime networks that exploited their dreams and promised a better life in exchange of profits. The people who managed to make it safely to shores they were placed to improper places inside tents, in outdoor areas, squatted like simple commodities.
Today, more than 48.000 migrants and refugees are still in Greece awaiting a better future either in accommodation areas, hotspots or apartments. At the same time, the challenges remain with many people still unprotected from smugglers and traffickers, living in appalling hygiene conditions, no access to healthcare services and treated like “outcasts” in the society.
In honor of this International Migrants Day “The Smile of the Child” continues to meet every day the ever-increasing needs of children and families at risk and in great need. Dedicated to our mission for the protection and care of all children, regardless of ethnicity or religion on this International Migrants Day we spread the message that a child, whether refugee, migrant or internally displaced, is first and foremost a child deserving of protection, care and all the support and services she/he needs to thrive.
