Summary and Recommendations

This report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 45/30. It describes how alarming numbers of children are moving alone or being separated from their families across borders, particularly migrant children, those living in situations of armed conflict and those subject to counter-terrorism measures.

Children who have been separated from their families experience heightened vulnerabilities and violations of their rights, including violence, abuse, detention, neglect, trafficking and exploitation, serious deprivations of their economic, social and cultural rights, and other rights violations detrimental to their lifelong health and development. Because they are children, they often lack appropriate support and clear pathways to seek family reunification, and may receive no remedy or redress for the rights violations they endure as a consequence.

The present status quo in which a patchwork of policy priorities and approaches are applied to family reunification is failing children. All children have the right to grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding. All children are equal in dignity and in rights, which cannot be overlooked, limited, or negated because of their specific situation. The report recommends that States urgently follow up on the matter of family reunification by developing a global strategy on the basis of child rights guiding principles.