The locked metal door : comparative perspective to preventive policies to exploitative child begging in Croatia and Romania

Abstract

People involved in begging can be seen around the world. They are mostly children, young adults and women who pushed by different factor of vulnerability become invisibles in the urban landscape. Although begging is not always organized, on some occasions is the result of manipulation and abuse. When this happens, begging constitutes a form of exploitation that may involve human trafficking. In Europe, it has been observed that people who practice voluntary begging, people belonging to minority groups, people with disabilities, the elderly and children are particular vulnerable to exploitative begging due to their situation may involve one or more factors of vulnerability. Focusing on the case of children, their exploitation though begging involves several actors and imply the failure of the state at protecting them. Having this in mind, this work is aimed at discovering thought the examples of Croatia and Romania, which are the main gaps in preventive measures targeting children at risk to exploitative begging that are making possible the continuation of the exploitation prosses. Furthermore, the measures designed in the areas of awareness raising, education and social inclusion during the period 2012-2020 will be particularly examined. An effective policy making in these areas could have a direct effect into people’s behaviour towards exploitative child begging and this could mean the first step to eradicate this practice.