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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Handbook on the Crossing of the State Border by Children, Persons with Disabilities and Persons Accompanying them in a State of Emergency or Martial Law (Ukrainian)

Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, 21 Mar 2022

Цей запис підготовлено Міністерством соціальної політики України за підтримки проекту «Підтримка державних реформ в Україні» (SURGe), відповідно до постанови Кабінету Міністрів України від 27.01.1995 р. № 57». Про затвердження Правил перетину державного кордону громадянами України» (в редакції постанови КМУ від 12.03.2022 р. № 264). У ньому викладено практичні рекомендації для громадян України при перетині державного кордону України.

Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine: About 5,000 Children from Vulnerable Categories Being Brought up in Institutional Care Facilities Were Evacuated

Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, 19 Mar 2022

The Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, Maryna Lazebna, said that as of 19 March 2022, 4,894 children from 179 institutions of institutional care have been evacuated. Of these, 2,522 children were relocated withinUkraine, and 2,372 children from 116 institutions were relocated abroad.

Update on Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Figures in Ukraine: 18 March 2022

Protection Cluster Ukraine, IOM, REACH, UNHCR, OCHA, 18 Mar 2022

On 11 March 2022, the Protection Cluster released the first estimation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine since the military offensive started on 24th February. Estimates were based on a provisional methodology developed in consultation with OCHA, IOM, UNHCR and REACH.

Ukraine Situation Flash Update #4

UNHCR, 18 Mar 2022

The Russian Federation launched a military offensive against Ukraine on 24 February 2022. In three weeks, more than 3.2 million refugees have been forced to flee Ukraine, while an additional 6.5 million people have been displaced internally within the country. Over 12 million people have been affected in the areas hardest hit by the war within Ukraine. In these weekly updates, the UNHCR continues to call for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, respect for international humanitarian law, and appealed to neighbouring countries to continue keeping their borders open to those fleeing.

Оновлення щодо кількості ВПО в Україні 18 березня 2022

Protection Cluster Ukraine, IOM, REACH, UNHCR, OCHA, 18 Mar 2022

11 березня 2022 року Кластер захисту оприлюднив першу оцінку внутрішньо переміщених осіб (ВПО) в Україні від початку військового наступу 24 лютого. Оцінки були засновані на попередній методології, розробленій у консультації з OCHA, МОМ, УВКБ ООН та REACH. У зв’язку з відсутністю достовірних джерел даних про ВПО на той момент, і в той час як урядова централізована система реєстрації не застосовувалася, Кластер втрутився, щоб забезпечити доведення до відома міжнародної спільноти попередньо оцінених масштабів внутрішнього переміщення в Україні.

A Training in Psychological First Aid for Foster Carers of Children Who Have Experienced Trauma

Catholic Relief Services, 18 Mar 2022

This rapid training was designed to provide information to Moldovan foster families in preparation for fostering unaccompanied and separated children from the Ukraine. The training package includes a PPT and facilitator’s guide. Content provided during the six-hour training program includes basic information on childhood trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences, key elements of PFA including Look, Listen and Link, and understanding how to both identify and support children who have lived through trauma and how it might manifest at different ages and stages of development.

ОСНОВНІ СТАТИСТИЧНІ ДАНІ: НАЦІОНАЛЬНА ГАРЯЧА ЛІНІЯ З КОНСУЛЬТУВАННЯ МІГРАНТІВ ТА ПРОТИДІЇ ТОРГІВЛІ ЛЮДЬМИ 527 З ПОЧАТКУ ВІЙНИ

IOM, 16 Mar 2022

Протягом 24 лютого – 16 березня 2022 року через гарячу лінію було надано 12 083 консультацій у відповідь на 2 473 отриманих дзвінка.
Національна безкоштовна гаряча лінія з консультування мігрантів та протидії торгівлі людьми функціонує на базі неурядової організації “Відродження нації”. Гаряча лінія працює в межах Програми захисту і допомоги вразливим мігрантам Міжнародної організації з міграції (МОМ) в Україні за щедрої підтримки американського народу через проєкт Агентства США з міжнародного розвитку (USAID).

Children Deprived of their Family Environment Due to the Armed Conflict in Ukraine: Cross-Border Protection and Intercountry Adoption

HCCH, 16 Mar 2022

This information note from the Hague Conference on Private International Law | Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé (HCCH) outlines the framework for the protection of children in emergency situations. It provides guidance on protecting children who are internationally displaced from Ukraine as well as intercountry adoption in armed conflict.

Guidance for Protecting Displaced and Refugee Children in and Outside of Ukraine

UNICEF, 11 Mar 2022

The war in Ukraine has displaced more than 2 million people as they flee their country to find refuge. Roughly half of those displaced are children. Among them, many are unaccompanied or have been separated from their families. Children on the move in and outside of Ukraine are at heightened risk of violence, exploitation and abuse. This guidance, produced by the UNICEF team, outlines how authorities and aid workers can help keep children displaced by the war in Ukraine safe from trafficking and other forms of exploitation and abuse.

UNICEF guidance on displaced children in Ukraine

Ukraine Response Protection Snapshot: 6 - 9 March 2022

Protection Cluster Ukraine, 09 Mar 2022

The Protection Cluster coordinates the protection response and advocates for the improvement of policies and legislation affecting conflict-affected people. It also engages in capacity building and provides guidance on mainstreaming protection into all humanitarian response activities. This is the Protection snapshot for Ukraine for the period 6 - 9 March 2022, compiled by Protection Cluster Ukraine.