Infancia e inmigración en Chile: hacia un estado del arte

Abstract

The aim of this article is to set out the “state of the art” with regard to the phenomenon of childhood and immigration in Chile, on the basis of a review of the bibliographical materials on this matter and taking into account the international framework of human rights as a paradigm supporting research and intervention with migrant children, their families and communities. It is an emergent phenomenon in our country which is gradually starting to be addressed within the sphere of social research and intervention. The few scientific studies carried out into the living conditions of immigrant children derive for the most part from the academic world (graduate and post-graduate theses or Fondecyt) and are classified within the area of Social Sciences. Meanwhile, civil-society or international organizations have essentially published the results of social interventions carried out with migrant children and their family groups. Likewise, it is clear that State bodies – specializing in this matter – have paid scant attention to the phenomenon of migrant children, in practice coming up against difficulties to tackle this effectively on the basis of a human-rights approach.