Currently, there are more than 117 million displaced people in the world, 40% of whom are children and young people. All of them face extreme challenges, including malnutrition, lack of educational opportunities, administrative irregularities and lack of social protection. Spain is no stranger to this scene, with almost a million migrant children in the country, often in situations of extreme vulnerability.
Salesian Social Platforms report that there are 45 million displaced children in the world. 12,878 are unaccompanied minors registered in Spain in 2023, with an increase of 450% in the last decade. In addition, there are 250 million children without access to education in the world, a gap that increases with digital inequality and integration difficulties. By 2050, then, one billion environmental migrants are expected, those driven by climate change.
In the report, the Salesian Social Platforms highlight the need for a global commitment to address the structural causes of migration, protect human rights and promote social integration. The Salesian Social Platforms therefore propose inclusive initiatives in the field of education and employment, giving priority to the access of young migrants. The objective is also to strengthen social protection in countries of origin and destination and to increase social awareness, promoting narratives that celebrate the diversity and contribution that migrants make.
As part of the International Day of Migrants, the Salesian Social Platforms have therefore launched the campaign "And you... what would you do?", with the aim of bringing the public closer to this reality and raising awareness about the situation of children and young migrants, the circumstances that force people to migrate and the challenges that we all face as a society.
The Salesian Social Platforms are promoting a model of coexistence based on mutual acceptance, respect and appreciation of diversity.
The many and varied difficulties faced by immigrants, especially by young people, are also addressed through numerous projects and programs.
