Children and adolescents without parental care in Latin America: Contexts, causes and consequences of the deprivation of the right to community- family- based care

This paper is based on the Latin American Report ‘Children and adolescents without parental care in Latin America – Contexts, causes and consequences of the deprivation of the right to community- family- based care’, which was prepared using reports from 13 counties in the region, compiled to establish the circumstances of children without parental care or in vulnerable situations. The paper aims to expose the reality of the lives of thousands of children and adolescents in Latin America and to increase awareness among diverse organisations, institutions, governments and civil society. It can be used as a tool for advocacy, to promote and defend the rights of children. Understanding their situation will give rise to increasing commitment to finding more opportunities, improving practices and related legislation and seeking further funding and tools for their proper implementation. This paper is intended for all those who work in the fields of preservation of parental care and alternative care. It was prepared by the Relaf Project, the Latin American Foster Care Network, through a cooperation agreement with SOS Children’s Villages International.