“Reaching for an inclusive world”
In addition to the upheaval that often comes with having a parent in prison, children with imprisoned parents can experience sadness, stigma, bullying, exclusion. They can feel as though they deserved what is happening to them: often feeling ashamed and different from other young people. Studies show that public and peer attitudes play a key role in the well-being of children with parents in conflict with the law. [ref] 2007 study comparing data from Project Metropolitan study in Sweden and a similar study the UK posited that more family-friendly prison policies and more sympathetic public attitudes toward crime and punishment act as protective factors for children with imprisoned parents. Murray, J., Janson, C.G., & Farrington, D.P., (2007). Crime in adult offspring of prisoners: a cross-national comparison of two longitudinal samples. Crim. Justice Behav. 34(1): 133-149.[/ref]
Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) has been invited to send a group of children impacted by parental imprisonment to a week-long global forum in Caux, Switzerland, organised by Children as Actors for Transforming Society (CATS). COPE has mobilised a small delegation of young people from the UK who will be representing COPE at this important event.
“a unique space where children and adults
are partners in transforming society”
Centred around the theme “Reaching for an inclusive world”, the CATS forum aims to show how children are key to creating a better world by offering them a “platform to inspire others, to share their difficulties, to tackle obstacles and to promote inclusion”.
Participating in the forum will be a unique experience for the COPE delegation, who can experience the support of other children and young people; learn more about how to tap into their own unique potential; and express their ideas about creating a more inclusive world. Including a group of children with imprisoned parents can show them that they have an active role to play in shaping their world. Yet the aim of CATS is actually to shed labels and see one another as people who can all work together, despite one’s age, social status, origins, gender, or parent’s legal status. It’s traditionally a happy environment where young people reach out to one another through discussion, group activities, sports, yoga, talent nights and more. How better to give kids a feeling of being included?
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child places great importance on allowing every child the right to participate in decisions that concern them. CATS 2017 aims to create a “unique space where children and adults are partners in transforming society by highlighting true stories, good practices and promoting understanding differences and diversity”.
Read more about the CATS forum
Sensitising children and adults about what it is like to have a parent in prison helps create a more supportive environment, fostering understanding, support and inclusion. The young people participating in the forum on behalf of COPE will be keeping a diary record of their experiences, which we will share after the event.
