Verification and Family Reunification

Separated and unaccompanied children are at a greater risk of abuse and exploitation, and are less likely to have their basic rights to health, education, and psychosocial well-being met. It is the responsibility of protection organisations and the government to ensure that such children are identified, documented, their circumstances assessed, and active efforts made to reunite them with their parents or normal guardians as quickly as possible.

All separated children and caretakers searching for family members should be registered. Where possible, immediate efforts should be made to quickly reunite children. They should be documented in order to begin tracing activities. If an adult says he or she is an immediate or extended family member of a child, the relationship should be verified before reunification is carried out. Children may have to stay in emergency care placements until family members are located and screened, however they should be reunited at the earliest opportunity.

Verification activities are vital for the protection of children. In some cases children may falsely claim separation in order to receive benefits, adults may identify the wrong child, or reunification may not be in the best interests of the child. In the chaos and distress in an emergency situation, verification becomes an essential step in safe family reunification. All verification and reunification activities must follow international standards and government policies, and require coordination among the agencies involved.

Reunification with family members should take into account the wider community context, to ensure the child will be welcomed and to prevent future separation. This may include family mediation, community sensitization, and/or particular services to help ensure acceptance and enable families to provide adequate care. It is also appropriate to involve community leaders and/or child protection groups to monitor a child’s safety and well-being after reunification. All placements with caretakers who are not immediate family members should involve careful screening and be monitored until satisfactory integration is assured. For children who are not able to be reunited with relatives, a longer term care plan will be needed.

The materials in this section include verification forms, country examples and good practice guidance for reunifying separated children with their families.

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Small Town Politics, Stigma, and Services: Understanding the Unique Needs of Rural Families Post-Reunification

Nikki DiGregorio, 16 Jun 2022

This pilot study investigated a sample of caseworkers’ perceptions as related to social services for improving family unity post-reunification, as well as barriers that exist for families accessing social services in rural southeast Georgia in the US.

Psychological First Aid for Foster Families: Training for Frontline Workers

Catholic Relief Services , 12 Jun 2022

This training has been designed for social workers in Moldova who are working with foster families caring for unaccompanied and separated children and adolescents who have fled the crisis in Ukraine.

Child's Right to Identity in Alternative Care

Child Identity Protection (CHIP) , 09 Mar 2022

This policy brief aims to foster an understanding that the provision of quality alternative care, requires that the child’s right to identity is safeguarded.

Concept Note: 49th Session of the Human Rights Council - The Rights of the Child and Family Reunification

UNHRC, 08 Mar 2022

This is the concept note for the 49th session of the Human Rights Council which is an annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child. The focus of this year's meeting was to identify the implications of a child rights approach to family reunification, paying particular attention to preventing the separation of children from their families, and to children affected in cross-border situations.

Rights of the Child and Family Reunification: Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 49th Session of the Human Rights Council, 02 Mar 2022

The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 45/30, in which the Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report on the rights of the child and family reunification. All children have the right to family life, yet millions worldwide are suffering preventable separation from their families and associated violations of their rights. In the present report, the High Commissioner recommends that States move to develop global, child rights-based guiding principles and a global strategy for family reunification.

Beyond Family: Separation and reunification for young people negotiating transnational relationships

Jennifer E Shaw, 19 Jan 2022

This paper explores perspectives on family reunification and emergent forms of separation among young migrants. These young people lived apart from and later reunited with their migrant parents who moved from the Philippines to Canada for work.

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Lessons from the Children in Families Plus Pilot - Volume 2: A Collective, Holistic Approach to Reintegrate Children in Residential Facilities to Family Care

Children in Families (CIF) Technical Working Group, 01 Nov 2021

Building on the CIF+ Learning Brief Vol 1.pdf, Volume 2 draws from CIF+ partner programming experience, achievements and lessons learned. This document outlines lessons for stakeholders that are interested in child reintegration efforts and highlights examples of the pilot as it works to support children and families in Zambia.

Appel à contributions: Rapport du HCDH au Conseil des droits de l'homme - "Les droits de l'enfant et le regroupement familial"

United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, 31 Oct 2021

Dans sa résolution 45/30, le Conseil des droits de l'homme a décidé de consacrer son prochain débat annuel d’une journée complète sur les droits de l'enfant (2022) au thème « les droits de l'enfant et le regroupement familial ». Il a en outre prié au Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme d’établir un rapport sur ce thème, en étroite coopération avec toutes les parties concernées, afin d’éclairer le débat annuel d’une journée.

Convocatoria para contribuciones: Informe del ACNUDH al Consejo de Derechos Humanos - “Los derechos del niño y la reunificación familial”

United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, 31 Oct 2021

En la resolución 45/30, el Consejo de Derechos Humanos decidió centrar su próxima reunión anual de un día completo de los derechos del niño (2022) sobre el tema “los derechos del niño y la reunificación familial”. Además, solicitó a la Oficina del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos que prepare un informe sobre ese tema, en estrecha cooperación con todas las partes interesadas, con el fin de proporcionar información para la reunión anual de día completo.

Mecanismo de prevención de la separación familiar innecesaria entre CTWWC y la Procuraduría General de la Nación

Changing the Way We Care, 01 Sep 2021

El mecanismo de prevención de la separación familiar innecesaria entre Cambiando la forma en que CuidamosSM y la Procuraduría General de la Nación, es un informe que resume la experiencia de Cambiando la forma en que CuidamosSM Guatemala en la implementación de una ruta de prevención de la separación familiar innecesaria con una entidad de gobierno responsable de velar por el cumplimiento de derechos de los NNA, este procedimiento fue realizado con el objetivo de evitar la separación familiar innecesaria a través del seguimiento del caso y la derivación a servicios sociales y especializados, el informe también narra la experiencia en la implementación de juntas técnicas de análisis de caso para determinar el mejor interés para los NNA y familias, este informe está dirigido a profesionales que trabajan con niñes y adolescencia y que están interesados en implementar procedimientos para cerrar la puerta de entrada al cuidado residencial.