Children and Migration

Millions of children around the world are affected by migration. This includes girls and boys who migrate within and between countries (usually with their families but sometimes on their own), as well as children ‘left behind’ when their parents or caregivers migrate in search of economic opportunities. Be it forced or voluntary, by adults or children, migration affects children’s care situations and can entail risks to their protection.

Children on the move: Like adults, children often migrate in an attempt to build a better life – to escape poverty, discrimination or conflict, and to find education, employment and other opportunities. Others relocate due to an unstable or difficult family environment, such as the loss of a parent, or neglect or abuse from a caregiver. Children may migrate with or without their families, and their movements may be temporary, seasonal or permanent.

While migration can open up new opportunities for children, it can also expose them to harmful care situations, chronic poverty, violence and exploitation. During transit and at their destination, migrant children may end up in unsafe institutions, detention centres, on the streets or in overcrowded, poor-quality accommodation. Others who migrate to join households (e.g. for fostering, education, domestic work or apprenticeships) may be subjected to exploitation. Many migrant children, particularly those without documentation, end up without access to education, protection or basic services, while discrimination and language barriers make it difficult for them to reintegrate into new communities.

Children left behind. An increasing number of children around the world are also adversely affected when migrating parents leave home to seek out employment or economic opportunities (often in urban centres). While children may gain materially from remittances sent home, the absence of a parent may be detrimental to their social and psychological development. In particular, the nature and quality of children’s care relationships may suffer as they adjust to life without a loved caregiver and try to replace a physically and emotionally nurturing relationship with someone new.

Studies from around the world indicate that children left behind by migrating caretakers face education, health and psychosocial problems, including deteriorating academic performance and lower school attendance, greater risk of drug abuse, early pregnancy, involvement in criminal activities and social dysfunction. Left behind children may suffer from low self-esteem and feelings of abandonment, and in the worst cases may be vulnerable to violence, abuse and trafficking. While new or remaining caretakers can offer children a protective and caring environment they may also struggle to care for them without support, and breakdown of these relationships can sometimes result in children’s placement in harmful institutional care.

The documents in this section focus on the impact of migration on children’s care situations, and outline policy, advocacy and programmatic measures to enhance child migrants’ protection.

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A child is a child: Protecting children on the move from violence, abuse and exploitation

UNICEF, 01 May 2017

Among the millions of children on the move worldwide, many – including hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied children and adolescents – undertake dangerous journeys. This report shows how the lack of safe and legal pathways for refugee and migrant children feeds a booming market for human smuggling and puts them at risk of violence, abuse and exploitation. Building on recent UNICEF policy proposals, it sets out ways that governments can better protect these vulnerable children.

Shifting perceptions: Participatory research with unaccompanied asylum seeking young people living in foster care in the United Kingdom.

Rogers, J. - European Conference for Social Work Research, 21 Apr 2017

This paper presents the process and the outcomes of a participatory action research project with a group of unaccompanied asylum seeking young people living in foster care.

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Emergency within an Emergency: The Growing Epidemic of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Migrant Children in Greece

Jacqueline Bhabha & Vasileia Digidiki - FXB Center for Health & Human Rights, Harvard University, 17 Apr 2017

The present study analyzes the risk factors responsible for the exposure of migrant and refugee children to physical, psychological, and sexual violence and exploitation in Greece in the context of the ongoing migrant humanitarian crisis. It documents sexual and physical abuse of children inside migrant camps and reports new information about the commercial sexual exploitation of migrant children in the main cities of Greece. This research also explores the existing gaps and challenges in intervention efforts that contribute to victimization of migrant children.

Emergency Within an Emergency: The Growing Epidemic of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Migrant Children in Greece

Vasileia Digidiki & Jacqueline Bhabha - Francois-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University, 13 Apr 2017

Children Come First, Intervento in Frontiera: Dossier II

Alessio Fasulo - Save the Children Italy, 01 Apr 2017

As part of the "Children Come First: Intervention at the border" project, Save the Children Italy elaborates and disseminates, on a quarterly basis, a dossier containing quantitative and qualitative information (profiles) relating to migrant minors entering Italy. This dossier contains information relating to the period January-March 2017.

Unpacking the Relationship between Parental Migration and Child well-Being: Evidence from Moldova and Georgia

Franziska Gassmann, Melissa Siegel, Michaella Vanore, Jennifer Waidler - Child Indicators Research, 25 Mar 2017

Using household survey data collected between September 2011 and December 2012 from Moldova and Georgia, this paper measures and compares the multidimensional well-being of children with and without parents abroad.

Undocumented and Underage: The Crisis of Migrant Children

VICE, 23 Mar 2017

In this video from VICE, undocumented children face danger attempting to cross the border into the U.S. from Mexico. Those who end up in detention live in squalid, prison-like conditions.

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Field Handbook on Unaccompanied and Separated Children

Sarah Uppard and Lili Birnbaum - Inter-agency Working Group on Unaccompanied and Separated Children, 22 Mar 2017

This handbook offers comprehensive practical guidance on working with unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) in emergency settings.

March 22, 2017 Webinar: Initiative on Child Rights in the Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact on safe, orderly, and regular Migration

CPC Learning Network & Initiative for Child Rights in the Global Compacts, 22 Mar 2017

During this webinar on Wednesday, March 22, 2017, Save the Children’s Daniela Reale and Terres des Hommes’ Ignacio Packer provided an update on the Initiative for Child Rights in the Global Compacts and its work to date with a view of exploring how its work can be catalytic to a broader action for the support of children’s rights in the upcoming national, regional and global processes.

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8 Borders, 8 Days

Amanda Bailly, 09 Mar 2017

This documentary video tells the story of Sham, a single mother from Syria seeking safety in Europe.

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