The International Social Service (ISS) is an international

non-governmental organization A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an independent, typically nonprofit organization that operates outside government control, though it may get a significant percentage of its funding from government or corporate sources. NGOs often focus ...

(NGO) founded in 1924. It provides assistance in resolving international

child protection Child protection (also called child welfare) is the safeguarding of children from violence, exploitation, abuse, abandonment, and neglect. It involves identifying signs of potential harm. This includes responding to allegations or suspicions ...

cases. The ISS is organised as a global network of over 120 countries which assist children and families confronted with complex social problems as a result of migration. This is in addition to a General Secretariat based in

Geneva Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...

. The ISS is accredited to the

United Nations Economic and Social Council The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is one of six principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for coordinating the economic and social fields of the organization, specifically in regards to the fifteen specialized ...

(ECOSOC).

History

The ISS was founded as the 'International Migration Service' in 1924. It was initially established in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

by the

World YWCA The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries. The World office is currently based in Geneva, Swit ...

under the Chairmanship of Lady Dorothy Gladstone. Its headquarters moved from London to

in 1925, where it has remained since.

Present day

The ISS aims to ensure that respect for human rights is accorded to every individual across international borders, especially children. As such, it is concerned with a number of areas, including: * Forced migrations (

child trafficking Trafficking of children, also known as child trafficking, is a form of human trafficking and is defined by the United Nations as the "recruitment, transportation, harbouring, or receipt of a child" for the purpose of slavery, forced labour, and ...

, conflict, wars,

asylum Asylum may refer to: Types of asylum * Asylum (antiquity), places of refuge in ancient Greece and Rome * Benevolent asylum, a 19th-century Australian institution for housing the destitute * Cities of Refuge, places of refuge in ancient Judea * ...

) * Voluntary migrations * International adoptions * Child abduction (inter-country divorce or separation) * Unaccompanied/orphan child (death or separation) The services which ISS provides include: * Inter-country social and legal assistance * Family tracing * Pre- and post-adoption assistance * International family mediation * Child protection in family separation * Protection and care of unaccompanied minors * Alternative/foster care * Search of origins

Structure

The ISS is a global network spanning over 120 countries. These consist of 'Branches', 'Affiliated Bureaus' and 'Correspondents'. Prominent members exist in Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Switzerland, UK (known a
Children and Families Across Borders
and the US. The organisations that the ISS collaborates with include: * National and local child protection agencies * National and local governments and courts * NGOs with similar mission and activities * Family support services * Public and private immigration services * Public and private missing children agencies * Individual social service practitioners * Law enforcement agencies, practitioners and firms * Mediation practitioners * Psychology and health practitioners

History

Present day

Structure

References

External links