Street life and all its facets constitutes a severe violation of the basic rights of the child as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. For example, their right to an adequate standard of living (article 27), to protection (articles 4 and 19), good physical and mental health and nutrition(article 24), education (article 28), rest and leisure (article 31), protection from exploitation (articles 32, 34, 36) and informed participation in decisions concerning his/her life (article 12). In addition, where one or both parents are still alive, it constitutes a violation of the parent’s right and responsibility to be involved in “the upbringing and development of the child” (article 18) and to assistance from the State and others to “appropriate assistance in their child-rearing responsibilities”. The very combination of all these factors, of the trauma which children have experienced prior to running to the streets coupled with hardship, street crime, violence, poverty and abuse by law enforcement agencies once children are living on the streets, can often trap homeless children in a vicious cycle of anti-social behaviour, ill physical and mental health, lack of educational and social opportunities, crime, violence and poverty.

Consequently, addressing each one of the problem areas outlined separately is often not sufficient; rather, organisations seeking to work with children need to explore ways of addressing the entirety of children’s needs and rights if they are to become self-confident, active and healthy citizens later on in life. RETRAK is committed to helping children address the entirety of their needs and to allow them, where possible, to return to family and community life. Through this vision, as well as its holistic strategy, sound core values, and focus on sustainable and relevant solutions which form the basis of all its work, it therefore makes clear contributions to the fulfilment of the basic Rights of the Child.