In this position paper, SOS Children’s Villages states highlights that in 2015, the number of migrants has reached 215 million, while the number of refugees has reached 21.3 million. SOS Children’s Villages underlines that people on the move deserve universal human rights.
This document further discusses SOS Children’s Villages years of experience in supporting vulnerable children. Children has member organizations operating in over 130 countries.
SOS Children’s Village lists ten recommendations to ensure proper care and treatment for children. They include:
- Treat children as children, regardless of their migration status or that of their caregivers
- Grant safe regular channels for migrants and refugees
- Enhance cross-country cooperation and cooperation between governmental and nongovernmental actors to prevent and combat any form of violence against children, regardless of their migration status
- End immigration detention of children and their caregivers
- Ensure that human rights and basic needs of migrant and refugee children are met
- Protect every child’s right to quality care, regardless of migration status by a) preventing unnecessary family separation; b) grant guardianship to migrant and refugee children deprived of their families; c) increase support of and remove barriers to family reunification; d) devise and return policies that prioritise the best interest of the child; d) provide quality family and community-based care to unaccompanied and separated children; e) use ICTs and other tools to help displaced people maintain contacts with their family;
- Identify and track and monitor refugees and migrants through disaggregated data and assess special vulnerability, such as the loss of parental care
- Invest in capacity building of professionals to meet the rights of migrant and refugee children
- Invest in sustainable development
- Foster participation of migrant and refugee children and young people
SOS Children’s Village further discusses its work in countries of origin and countries first refuge. SOS Children’s Villages programs help prevent family separation. The organization also works with governments to help improve legal and policy frameworks. The document discusses SOS Children’s Villages advocacy work in Mexico, the Western Balkans, Austria and Finland.
