Bringing Child Buddhist Monks into the Alternative Care Conversation: Reflections on an Under-considered Group of Children

This article examines child Buddhist monks living in temples and monasteries across Asia, a largely overlooked group in child welfare discussions. Tens of thousands of children, some as young as 6 years old, live far from their families for extended periods in these religious institutions. The article identifies significant risks and vulnerabilities these children face, including sexual abuse, and argues that current practices do not align with international child rights standards.

Key points

• Tens of thousands of child Buddhist monks live in temples and monasteries across India, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other Asian countries
• Many child monks are separated from their parents for months or years at a time
• Some children enter monastic life as young as 6 years of age
• Child monks face documented risks and vulnerabilities, including sexual abuse
• Current practices of entrusting children to monasteries do not necessarily align with the Convention on the Rights of the Child or UN Guidelines for Alternative Care

Limitations

This article is a reflective piece that identifies concerns and raises awareness rather than providing empirical data on prevalence, outcomes, or effectiveness of interventions. It does not provide quantitative evidence about the extent of abuse, wellbeing outcomes, or comparative analysis with other care settings.