Child Protection

Beyond Borders works to make the exploitation and abuse of children socially unacceptable and to pressure the Haitian government to enforce laws to protect children. The social change aspect of this involves helping rural parents understand the grave risks facing children sent to work for other families and designing systems to help the poorest rural families not only keep and better care for their children, but also retrieve children they've already sent into servitude.

Uniquely Positioned to Help Haiti's Most Vulnerable Children

With nearly two decades of experience in Haiti, Beyond Borders is unique in its ability to mobilize local grassroots organizations to protect children separated from their parents. 

Our ongoing Campaign to End Child Servitude has yielded deep connections and an appreciation for the complexities of the issue. Our staff speak the language and understand the culture of Haiti, which has helped in maintaining close relationships with local grassroots groups. 

That’s why we’re in the forefront of international efforts to develop the mechanisms, support, and services to address the crucial needs of Haiti’s most vulnerable children.

Beyond Borders works to affect an increase in awareness around child protection issues and in interventions to protect children among internally displaced people in post-earthquake Haiti by implementing the following:

• Engaging camp residents and rural communities in protecting the rights of children and preventing further trafficking of children into the restavek system
• Reinforcing capacity of partner organizations to protect the rights of Haitian children using methods which take into account Haitian realities, strengths, and proactively address the restavek practice
• Within Inter-Agency and Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR) process, contribute to the elaboration of a best interest determination process and long-term care strategy for separated children unable to be reunified with families