Uprooted: The growing crisis for migrant and refugee children

UNICEF calls this the first report to compile comprehensive global data about displaced and migrant children. Its findings starkly show the disproportionate effects of conflict and migration on children. For instance, half of the world’s refugees are children (largely from Syria and Afghanistan), and almost 1 out of every 200 children in the world is a refugee. These kinds of headline figures are usefully disaggregated by contextual factors, particularly region, showing the diversity of migration experiences.

The report is stuffed with data, including eye-catching presentations of these data. For instance, a colour-coded diagram of the international legal agreements for children’s protection shows which regions’ countries are lagging behind on ratification (page 47). And a map depicting the extent of migration flows demonstrates that linguistic ties are correlated with who migrates where (page 55).

Complementing the statistics are text boxes focusing on particular themes (such as migration detention and climate-induced displacement) or giving voice to individual migrants.

The data lead to six main recommendations:

1)      Protect child refugees and migrants from exploitation and violence

2)      End detention of child asylum seekers and migrants

3)      Keep families together

4)      Provide education, health, and other services

5)      Urge action on the root causes of conflict and displacement

6)      Fight xenophobia and discrimination in destination countries

As a resource for researchers, Uprooted helpfully marshals a large corpus of information and makes this digestible.

Available from:

http://www.unicef.org/emergencies/childrenonthemove/uprooted/

The report is accompanied by a “Research Watch” webpage, which pulls together videos, audio interviews, and commentaries: https://www.unicef-irc.org/research-watch/Children%20on%20the%20move/

Further reading:

Farmer, Alice (2013), “The impact of immigration detention on children”, Forced Migration Review Vol 44, pages 14–16, available at http://www.fmreview.org/detention/farmer.html.

Halabi, Zeina (2004), “Exclusion and identity in Lebanon’s Palestinian refugee camps: a story of sustained conflict”, Environment and Urbanization Vol 16, No 2, pages 39–48, available at http://eau.sagepub.com/content/16/2/39.abstract.

Mann, Gillian (2002), “ ‘Wakimbizi, wakimbizi’: Congolese refugee boys’ and girls’ perspectives on life in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania”, Environment and Urbanization Vol 14, No 1, pages 115–122, http://eau.sagepub.com/content/14/2/115.abstract.

Book note prepared by Christine Ro