AFRICA - More than one million children prisoners worldwide with adult criminals

Freetown (Agenzia Fides) – Many children are locked up in cells with criminal adults and are given only a cup of black tea without sugar and a plate of rice. These young boys and girls are in prison and, in addition to the poor living conditions in which they survive, suffer sexual abuse. According to information sent to Agenzia Fides, more than one million children worldwide are segregated in prisons or detention centers for minors and are accused of minor crimes. For example: in Sierra Leone to sleep on the street is considered a crime. Many boys and girls are treated as criminals, when in fact they just need a little help and social assistance. In Kenya, nearly 2,000 children are detained because they have no home or a job, other 500 have no family protection and 600 beg. This is the reason why the Misiones Salesianas 'IN-Social Justice' campaign has raised the alarm over the painful reality that children, boys and girls and young people live. The objective of the Salesian missionaries in Countries such as Sierra Leone, Philippines, El Salvador, India or Brazil, is to help minors who have problems with the law through education. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 05/06/2015)