Euro-orphan or EU orphan is a
neologism
A neologism Greek νέο- ''néo''(="new") and λόγος /''lógos'' meaning "speech, utterance"] is a relatively recent or isolated term, word, or phrase that may be in the process of entering common use, but that has not been fully accepted int ...
used metaphorically to describe a "
social orphan" in the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
whose parents have
migrated to another member state, typically for
economic reasons. The child is left behind, often in the
care of older relatives. The expression itself is a misnomer, since it is meant to describe temporary
child abandonment
Child abandonment is the practice of relinquishing interests and claims over one's offspring in an illegal way, with the intent of never resuming or reasserting guardianship. The phrase is typically used to describe the physical abandonment of a ...
, rather than the
death of both parents. A similar name is White Orphans.
Such abandoned children may require
therapeutic or psychiatric care to cope. The EU supports family reunification. Migrating families are sometimes divided by local child services (
Jugendamt
(German: Youth office) is a German and Austrian local agency set up to promote the welfare of children. Each district () or district-free city () has its own . Its structure is flat, with no centralised (state or federal) coordinating office.
In ...
). The number of Euro-orphans in the EU is estimated to be between 0.5-1 million, more Euro-orphans live outside the EU, e.g. in Ukraine.
Łukasz Krzyżanowski has coined a similar term, "old euro-orphans", describing elderly parents left behind by migrants.
Media
*"Euroorphans – the children left behind" - documentary by
Sven Bergman
Sven Bergman (born 12 November 1967) is a Swedish investigative reporter/producer for the current affairs show "Uppdrag granskning" on SVT.
He works in a team with Fredrik Laurin and Joachim Dyfvermark.
The trio has specialized in global inve ...
*"I am Kuba" - documentary by
Åse Svenheim Drivenes
Books
*Anne White, Polish Families and Migration Since EU Accession, 2017
See also
*
Abandoned child syndrome
Abandoned child syndrome is a proposed behavioral or psychological condition that is said to result from the loss of one or both parents. Abandonment may be physical or emotional; that is, the parent may abandon the child by failing to be present ...
*
Child displacement Child displacement is the complete removal or separation of children from their parents and immediate family or settings in which they have initially been reared. Displaced children includes varying categories of children who experience separation ...
*
Dead mother complex The dead mother complex is a clinical condition described by Andre Green involving an early and destructive identification with the figure of a 'dead' – or rather depressed and emotionally unavailable – mother.
Complex/syndrome
Green introduce ...
*
Maternal deprivation
Maternal deprivation is a scientific term summarising the early work of psychiatrist and psychoanalyst John Bowlby on the effects of separating infants and young children from their mother (or primary caregiver). Although the effect of loss of the ...
*
Migrations from Poland since EU accession
*
Parental alienation
Parental alienation is a theorized process through which a child becomes estranged from one parent as the result of the psychological manipulation of another parent. The child's estrangement may manifest itself as fear, disrespect or hostility tow ...
*
Separation anxiety
Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is an anxiety disorder in which an individual experiences excessive anxiety regarding separation from home and/or from people to whom the individual has a strong emotional attachment (e.g., a parent, caregiver ...
*
Social orphan
*
Transnational child protection Transnational child protection refers to the protection of children from violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect in an international setting. When a non-national child comes into contact with public authorities and service providers, a series of c ...
*
Unaccompanied minor
An unaccompanied minor (sometimes "unaccompanied child" or "separated child") is a child without the presence of a legal guardian.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child defines unaccompanied minors and unaccompanied children as those "who ...
*
List of European Union member states by average wage
This is the map and list of European countries by monthly average wage (annual divided by 12 months) gross and net income (after taxes) average wages for full-time employees in their local currency and in euros. The chart below reflects the aver ...
*
Left-behind children in China
In China, "left-behind children" (), also called "stay-at-home children", are children who remain in rural regions of the country while their parents leave to work in urban areas. In many cases, these children are taken care of by their extended ...
References
External links
As Poland loses its doctors and builders, ‘Euro-orphans’ are left at home to sufferThe plight of Europe's 'euro orphans'
* ttp://elib.bsu.by/bitstream/123456789/17452/1/p_55-56.pdf Deformed family communication in case of euro-orphan families (Latvia)
Child abandonment
Child development
Child welfare
Childhood in Europe
Internal migrations in Europe
European Union society
Living arrangements
Metaphors
Neologisms
Parenting
Social issues in Europe
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