This mapping aims to highlight promising laws, policies and practices relevant to family reunification for unaccompanied and separated refugee children and other children in need of international protection. The mapping aims to raise awareness of current legal, administrative, and programmatic barriers as well as highlight a range of promising practices that enable unaccompanied and separated children to reunite with parents or other caregivers across borders.

Growing up and living with albinism in rural Nigeria was tough for Aisha*. She and her two siblings with the condition were shrouded in stigma and lived in constant fear of being mutilated or killed.

This study examines the protection of unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) displaced by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, focusing on their vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation across European host countries. Using a mixed-methods approach, it assesses the effectiveness of existing protection systems, identifies key intersectional risks, and highlights emerging good practices, with the aim of informing improved responses to current and future large-scale child displacement crises.

UNICEF’s Global Programme Framework for Children on the Move sets out the organization’s renewed priorities and guiding principles for protecting, including and empowering children affected by migration and displacement worldwide.

This toolkit aims to support practitioners to enhance integration support and services, helping to ensure that children and young people are provided with support and protection that fosters their development and well-being in a way that is equal and equitable to the way that the development and well-being of children that are citizens of the country are fostered.

This paper aims to navigate the complex terrain of refugee law with a child-centric approach, evaluating whether the UK adequately safeguards the rights of unaccompanied children. It concludes that whilst the UK’s domestic legislation is in compliance with its international obligations, its asylum procedures ultimately fail to adequately safeguard unaccompanied children and a framework recognising vulnerability (as opposed to chronological age) as the appropriate threshold and determinative factor for safeguarding would better support the rights of unaccompanied minors and age-disputed individuals.

Desarrollada por el Grupo de Trabajo sobre Separación Familiar en colaboración con organizaciones nacionales e internacionales de confianza que trabajan directamente con familias afectadas, esta guía informativa orienta a padres, madres, cuidadores y las personas que les ayudan a comprender mejor sus derechos, conocer las opciones disponibles para la reunificación e identificar recursos que puedan contribuir a encontrar la mejor solución para cada niño, niña, adolescente y su familia.

Developed through the Family Separation Working Group in partnership with trusted national and international organizations on the front lines of supporting families, this practical guide helps parents, caregivers, and those assisting them understand their rights, learn about reunification options, and identify resources that may support them in finding the best solution for their child and family.

With an estimated 37-42 million children on the move globally, this publication underscores the urgent need to place children’s rights at the center of migration governance. Drawing on promising practices from countries including Thailand, Jordan, Mexico and Uganda, the report highlights practical, rights-based solutions that address children’s specific vulnerabilities while promoting their protection, development and inclusion.

This toolkit provides tools and resources to service providers working with unaccompanied and separated children across various contexts. The toolkit presents research and background on the experiences, needs, and strengths of unaccompanied and separated children, and specific considerations for how service providers may support children’s long-term well-being and resilience while providing needed services.