2026-04-18T07:29:56Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/request

oai:recercat.cat:2072/4821612025-08-31T17:58:20Zcom_2072_98col_2072_378192

Challenges of Religious and Cultural Diversity in the Child Protection System with Children Migrating "Alone" in Catalonia and Melilla Freixa, Montserrat Ruiz Garzón, Francisca Sánchez Martí, Angelina Vilà, Ruth Migrant children Unaccompanied children Child protection system Interfaith dialogue Stigmatization Migrant children Unaccompanied children Child protection system Interfaith dialogue Stigmatization Migrant children Unaccompanied children Child protection system Interfaith dialogue Stigmatization Cultural and religious diversity in Spain, driven by recent decades of migratory flows, has not been exempt from generating social tensions and, unfortunately, an increasing stigmatization of migrant children. This article examines how power dynamics and exclusion impact the identity construction of these young people, particularly within the child protection system. Through interviews and focus groups with young people and professionals in Barcelona and Melilla, this study highlights the resistance strategies these young individuals employ to counteract stigmatizing narratives. The findings indicate that, despite inclusion policies, imposed labels reinforce their vulnerability and limit their social and community participation. Although interfaith dialogue is proposed as a tool to mitigate these tensions, professionals working with these children emphasize the lack of institutional support and insufficient training in socio-cultural diversity, which hinders their efforts. The study underscores the importance of developing interfaith competencies that foster mutual respect and recognition, concluding with a critique of the current protection system. It advocates for a comprehensive approach to addressing these young people's emotional, social, and spiritual needs beyond solely legal and educational aspects. Cultural and religious diversity in Spain, driven by recent decades of migratory flows, has not been exempt from generating social tensions and, unfortunately, an increasing stigmatization of migrant children. This article examines how power dynamics and exclusion impact the identity construction of these young people, particularly within the child protection system. Through interviews and focus groups with young people and professionals in Barcelona and Melilla, this study highlights the resistance strategies these young individuals employ to counteract stigmatizing narratives. The findings indicate that, despite inclusion policies, imposed labels reinforce their vulnerability and limit their social and community participation. Although interfaith dialogue is proposed as a tool to mitigate these tensions, professionals working with these children emphasize the lack of institutional support and insufficient training in socio-cultural diversity, which hinders their efforts. The study underscores the importance of developing interfaith competencies that foster mutual respect and recognition, concluding with a critique of the current protection system. It advocates for a comprehensive approach to addressing these young people's emotional, social, and spiritual needs beyond solely legal and educational aspects 2025 Article https://ddd.uab.cat/record/308033 urn:10.3390/rel16020109 urn:oai:ddd.uab.cat:308033 urn:oai:egreta.uab.cat:publications/a5cae6a3-a247-4d3c-a0b0-cda99ad28f83 urn:pure_id:465421648 eng Religions ; Vol. 16 Núm. 2 (2025) open access Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ application/pdf