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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ФАКТОРИ РИЗИКУ, ЯКІ НЕОБХІДНО ВРАХОВУВАТИ ПРИ ПЕРЕВЕЗЕННІ ДІТЕЙ ПІД ЧАС ГУМАНІТАРНОЇ КРИЗИ

Changing the Way We Care, 04 Mar 2022

Цей документ створено для постачальників послуг, які працюють з дітьми, сім'ями та дітьми, що залишились без батьківської турботи, враховуючи поточну гуманітарну ситуацію в Україні та сусідніх країнах.

Communication from the European Commission on Temporary Protection Directive for Displaced Persons from Ukraine

European Commission, 04 Mar 2022

Communication from the Commission on Operational guidelines for the implementation of Council implementing Decision 2022/382 establishing the existence of a mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine within the meaning of Article 5 of Directive 2001/55/EC, and having the effect of introducing temporary protection 2022/C 126 I/01.

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from March 1, 2022 № 179 (Unofficial Google Translation)

Government of Ukraine, 01 Mar 2022

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine introduced a modification of item 24 of "Rules of crossing of the state border by citizens of Ukraine". This is an unofficial English Google Translation of the original document published in Ukrainian which is included on Page 2 of this document.

Ukraine Response Protection Snapshot: 25 February - 1 March 2022

Protection Cluster - Ukraine, 28 Feb 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 February 25 - March 1, 2022, compiled by Protection Cluster Ukraine.

An Updated Procedure for Border Crossing for Orphans and Children Without Parental Care

Government of Ukraine, 28 Feb 2022

The Government of Ukraine released this updated procedure for border crossing for orphans and children without parental care.

Guardianship Systems for Unaccompanied Children in the European Union: Developments Since 2014

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 15 Feb 2022

The report shows that, overall, although legislative changes have taken place in many Member States, national guardianship systems continue to face many challenges. The guardianship systems also still vary greatly across the EU.

Out of Harm's Way: A new care system to protect vulnerable teenagers at risk of exploitation and crime

The Commission on Young Lives, 2022

This report highlights the changing characteristics of children in and on the ‘edge of care’, including unaccompanied minors, increasing numbers of young people with unmet complex needs and BAME young people.

Ukrainian Families and Minors Fleeing from War

Giovanni Giulio Valtolina, Nicoletta Pavesi, 2022

In this essay, after providing some data regarding Ukrainian families and minors who fled their country after the Russian invasion and moved to Italy, the authors will focus on the extraordinary effort made to improve reception programs, on the peculiar condition of minors who reached our country accompanied by adults who were not their parents, and finally on the experience of placing these fleeing families into Italian households.

Guidance for Mental Health Professionals Serving Unaccompanied Children Released from Government Custody

Stanford Early Life Stress and Resilience Program, National Center for Youth Law, Center for Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice, 01 Nov 2021

Providing effective mental health services to unaccompanied children released from federal immigration custody is both critically important and incredibly challenging. Developed by children’s rights attorneys and mental health experts on trauma and immigration, this Guide is grounded in the voices and experiences of unaccompanied children.

Integrating Children on the Move in Care Reform in ESA: Evidence on Why Children on the Move Need to be Integrated Into Care Reform Strategies and How their Care Needs Can be Met

UNICEF ESARO, Changing the Way We Care, 01 Oct 2021

This short paper examines why children on the move need to be included in care reform in the region, how the care needs of these boys and girls can be met, and what lessons can be learned from the care of children on the move to inform the care of children more broadly.