Regardless of the reasons for their movement, children are entitled to care and protection
Whatever their reasons for having crossed borders, children on the move are extremely vulnerable to a wide range of protection risks including violence, trafficking, abuse, exploitation and neglect. Unaccompanied and separated children face even greater risks of abuse and exploitation due to their lack of parental care. Unfortunately, too often States respond to complex migratory movements in a way that fails to give precedence to children’s protection and best interests. In this context, there is a greater need than ever for strengthened child protection systems, including cross-border cooperation to uphold the protection and best interests of children. To help address these gaps and protection challenges for children on the move, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Mr. Gehad Madi, has dedicated his most recent report to the UN General Assembly to the issue of children on the move.
Identifying solutions that put children first
This Side Event is being co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Mexico and Greece to the United Nations in New York, The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide an opportunity for States, UN agencies and civil society organizations to engage in an interactive discussion with the Special Rapporteur and other high-level speakers regarding his report “Children are children first and foremost: Protecting child rights in migration contexts” (A/79/213).
The Side Event will take place on the margins of the UN General Assembly’s 79th Regular Session (UNGA79) and provide an opportunity to highlight key recommendations and promising practices to protect the rights of children in migration contexts, including a focus on two priority actions identified by the Special Rapporteur:
- Facilitating and expanding access to family reunification
- Preventing and responding to statelessness
Please Register for Side Event Here