600,000 kids have a parent behind bars, and Belgian psychologist says they need help in the form of care centres with national standards
A Belgian psychologist in Beijing who has devoted the past 15 years to safeguarding the welfare of children of convicts is helping authorities develop national standards for child-protection centres.
He is also designing protocols to place unattended children in the care of these centres.
The number of children across the country with a parent in prison is overwhelming – 600,000 by the Ministry of Justice’s last count in 2008. But according to Dr Koen Sevenants, that is not the whole story.
“It’s not only the number – the pain these children are suffering is tremendous,” Sevenants said.
“They have been subjected to violence, their development is disrupted and many think it’s their fault that their parents are in prison. How can you be accepted by your peers when you are constantly bullied and feel ashamed of who you are?
“So it’s not the number – an individual child is enough to warrant an organisation.”
A child was also six times more likely to go to prison if he had a parent in prison, the doctor said.
Sevenants is general director of the Morning Tears Alliance, a non-governmental organisation specialising in the care of children of prisoners. More than 1,000 children have benefited from the group, which provides family-like care centres and training for caregivers in partnership with all levels of government on the mainland.
Sevenants’ team is working with authorities at both the national level and in Zhengzhou , Henan , on a three-year project that began in December to assist these children.
