A new report released by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) last week looked at the growing crisis for refugee and migrant children.
The full report is available here and a further 'Children on the move' resource page is here.
According to the 140-page report, the number of children who have migrated across borders or been forcibly displaced within their own countries now stands at near 50 million, with more than half of those uprooted by war and conflict.
UNICEF says it is shocking and unacceptable that the number of child refugees has doubled in just ten years.
The report states: "These children may be refugees, internally displaced or migrants, but first and foremost, they are children: no matter where they come from, whoever they are, and without exception. Children do not bear any responsibility for the bombs and bullets, the gang violence, persecution, the shriveled crops and low family wages driving them from their homes. They are, however, always the first to be affected by war, conflict, climate change and poverty.
"Children in these contexts are among the most vulnerable people on earth and this vulnerability is only getting worse. The number of child refugees under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) mandate has more than doubled in just 10 years – this shocking statistic is simply unacceptable."
UNICEF also says that more and more children are crossing borders on their own. Last year, more than 100,000 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum in 78 countries, which the report notes is triple the number in 2014.
UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake was quoted as saying: "Indelible images of individual children – Aylan Kurdi's small body washed up on a beach after drowning at sea or Omran Daqneesh's stunned and bloody face as he sat in an ambulance after his home was destroyed – have shocked the world. But each picture, each girl or boy, represents many millions of children in danger – and this demands that our compassion for the individual children we see be matched with action for all children."
Based on the findings of the report, UNICEF developed the following six goals and practical suggestions to protect child migrants and refugees and provide them with hope for the future:
• Protect child refugees and migrants, particularly unaccompanied children, from exploitation and violence Introduce measures to strengthen child protection systems, including the training of social and child workers and working with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and professional groups. Clamp down on trafficking, not only through enhanced law enforcement, but also by providing better support to migrant children through the systematic appointment of qualified guardians; better access to information regarding their own situation and the management of their cases; and access to legal assistance. Governments should also develop clearer guidance for case officers when determining the migration status of children, to prevent the return of children and families to persecution, dangerous or life-threatening situations, using the best interest of the child principle to guide legal decision-making in all cases.
• End the detention of children seeking refugee status or migrating Introduce practical alternatives to detention wherever children (or their families) are involved, given the negative impact of detention on a child's development. Children are particularly vulnerable to physical and psychological violence. Examples of alternatives to detention include: the surrender of passport and regular reporting requirements; guarantors or bailees who may be family members or community supporters; foster care and supervised independent living for unaccompanied and separated children; and compulsory registration with authorities.
• Keep families together as the best way to protect children and give children legal status Develop clear policy guidance to keep children from being separated from their parents during border control processing and any migrant legal processes. States should speed-up procedures and make it easier for children to reunite with their families, including with their extended families in destination countries. States should pursue all practical measures to reunify children with their families. Children born to migrant parents need legal identity for their future wellbeing. Governments should provide birth registration and/or other identity documents to enable children to access services and avoid statelessness.
• Keep all refugee and migrant children learning and give them access to health and other quality services An increased collective effort by governments, communities and the private sector is needed to provide education, health, shelter, nutrition, water and sanitation, and access to legal and psychosocial support to these children. This is not only a collective responsibility, it is in all societies' common interests. A child's migration status should never represent a barrier to accessing essential services.
• Press for action on the underlying causes of large scale movements of refugees and migrants Address the root causes of conflict, violence and extreme poverty in countries of origin. This should include increasing access to education and social protection; expanding opportunities for family income and youth employment; and fostering more accountable and transparent governance. Governments should facilitate community dialogue and engagement towards peaceful conflict resolution, tolerance and a more inclusive society; and should take measures against gang violence.
• Promote measures to combat xenophobia, discrimination and marginalization in countries of transit and destination Coalitions of NGOs, communities, private sector, religious groups and political leaders should take responsibility for influencing public opinion to prevent the rise of xenophobia and discrimination towards refugees.