Family Reunification and Separated Children: World Vision’s Response

International Refugee Rights ConferenceCCR Spring 2006 Consultation

Sara L. AustinSenior Policy Advisor, World Vision

Canada

Separated Children:A separated child is any person under the age of 18, separated from both parents, or from his/her previous legal or customary primary care giver, but not necessarily from other relatives.

Unaccompanied Children:An unaccompanied child is any person who is under the age of 18, separated from both parents, or from his/her previous legal or customary primary care giver and also his/her relatives.

Inter-agency Guiding Principles on Unaccompanied & Separated Children

1. A Comprehensive Approach

2. Preserving Family Unity

3. Tracing & Family Reunification

4. Care Arrangements

5. Durable Arrangements

6. Special Issues Related to Refugee Children

7. Promoting Children’s Rights

Key Stages in Family Reunification

Prevention

Identification

Registration

Documentation

Tracing

Verification

Reunification with family

Follow-up

•The Best Interests of the Child

•Right to survival and Development

•Participation of child in all decisions that affect their lives

•Non-discrimination

•Strengthen Family & Community programmes

Principles for Determining Care Arrangements

Snapshot: Pakistan

                                                                                              

•Earthquake occurred while children were in school, so many children were separated from families during the disaster

•WV’s response included such things:

•Child protection programmes

•Identification, tracing and reunification of separated and unaccompanied children

Snapshot: Northern Uganda•Since 1985 more than 12,000 children

have been abducted and forced into combat by the “Lord's Resistance Army” (LRA)

•As many as 40,000 children commute from rural villages every night on foot, seeking refuge to avoid abduction by the LRA.

•WV’s response includes:

•a center for former child soldiers with care and rehabilitation services, and are then reintegrated with their families

•shelter and care for the Night Commuters

Snapshot: Cambodia

                   

     

•In Cambodia, thousands of children are trafficked internally and across borders for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation

•WV’s response includes:

•Deterring child-sex tourists through media campaigns

•Promoting law enforcement

•Prevention programmes in rural communities

•Rehabilitation for children who have been exploited

•Reintegration with families

Snapshot: Canada

                                                                                              

•In Canada, there is no national policy for the protection of the rights of separated and unaccompanied children.

•WV’s response includes:

•Participation in an advisory group to Citizenship and Immigration Canada

•Advocating before the Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva

•Advocating with other NGOs and the UNHCR

•Providing support through our Refugee Reception Centre