Children’s Rights, Migration, and
Family Unity
The Principle of Family Unity and International Children’s Rights Standards
within the Context of Migration
Regional Seminar on Migration and Family, RCM
April 2010
The Family within the International Legal Framework
Migration
Migración
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Changes
Cambio
in the
familiar
Family
The Family within the International Legal Framework
The family, as the fundamental group of society and
the natural environment for the growth and
wellbeing of all its members and particularly
children, should be afforded the necessary
protection and assistance so that it can fully assume
its responsibilities within the community.
Preamble to the Convention on the Rights of the Child
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The Family within the International Legal Framework
Boys
andygirls
should
in en
an environment
where
they
Los
niños
niñas
debenlive
vivir
un entorno en
el que
se feel
sientan
supported,protegidos,
protected, cared
for, y
and
which
promotes
apoyados,
cuidados
que
promueva
todotheir
su full
potential.
potencial.
Los
niños who
privados
de su medio
familiar
en situación
Children
are deprived
of their
familyestán
environment
are inde
a
situation of lack of protection.
desprotección.
Statedebe
should
ensure
thatlos
children
live with
families,
ElThe
Estado
velar
porque
niños vivan
contheir
su familia,
que
that families are supported in their role of caretakers and that, if
éstas tengan apoyo en su función cuidadora y que, si los niños
children are separated from their families, they are reunited with
están
them.separados de su familia, se reúnan con ella nuevamente.
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The Principle of Family Unity within the Context of Migration:
Several Scenarios
girlsse
remain
in en
their
community
of y
LosBoys
niñosand
y niñas
quedan
su lugar
de origen
origin
onepadres
or both
parents
have
migrated
uno o and
ambos
han
migrado
a otro
país.
to another country.
LosBoys
niños
y niñas
están
en tránsito
solos
and
girls are
in transit
– alone
or o
acompañados– oorestán
proceso
deof
accompanied
are inen
the
process
repatriación.
repatriation.
Boys and girls are applicants for refugee
Los niños y niñas son
solicitantes de refugio.
status.
Boys and girls live in the country of destination
Los
niños y niñas viven en el país de destino o
or were born in the country of destination as
han
nacido
el paísparents
de destino
padres
children
ofen
foreign
in ande
irregular
extranjeros enmigration
situación situation.
de migración irregular.
The Principle of Family Unity and the Rights of
Unaccompanied Boys and Girls in Transit
The obligations of States relating to the right to
family life and its inclusion in migration policy can
involve:
 Refraining from adopting decisions which involve
separation of the members of a family
 Implementing positive actions to promote the
reunification of children with their families
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The Principle of Family Unity
The principle
of familiar
family unity
applied
to
Principio
de unidad
aplicado
a niños
y
niñas migrantes
no acompañados
unaccompanied
migrant
boys and girls
They have the
Tienen
derecho
right to
have a a
tener una familia y
family, and
las familias tienen
families have
the
derecho
a cuidar
rightde
to ellos
take care
of them
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children
They
should
have
Deben
tener
access
services
acceso to
a servicios
to destinados
quickly reunite
a
reunirlos
sus
them withcon
their
padres
o tutores
parents
or
rápidamente
guardians
En las actuaciones
Actions
should not
no
debe separarse
separate
children
al niño de sus
from their families,
familiares al menos
unless
done
que this
sea is
para
toasegurar
protect them
su
protección
The Principle of the Child’s Best Interest
• All decisions relating to unaccompanied migrant boys
or girls should tend to comply with the principle of
family unity, unless a judge establishes that this is
not the most appropriate action in order to ensure
the rights of the child.
• The Child’s Best Interest should be considered in
making this decision.
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The Principle of Participation
• In making decisions and implementing actions, States
should:
– Listen to and consider what children have to say regarding
the decisions relating to their placement and care, search
for their family, and family reunification.
– Interviews and information should be in the child’s
preferred language.
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The Principle of Non-Criminalization of
Irregular Migration
Los niños
y niñas
primer
lugar
Boys
and girls
are, son
first en
of all,
subjects
of rights
sujetos
de derechos
y, en un segundo
and
secondly,
migrants.
término, migrantes.
Under
no circumstances
maymigratorio
the migration
De
ninguna
forma el status
del
niño
o of
dethe
suschild
padres
puedeparents
ser motivo
status
or his/her
be a de
discriminación.
reason for discrimination.
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Interaction of principles governing the actions of States
regarding unaccompanied migrant boys and girls
Principlede
Principio
ofunidad
Family
familiar
Unity
Principle
Principio
the
delofinterés
Child’s
superior
Best
del
niño
Interest
UnNiña o niño
accompanied
migrante
no
migrant boy
acompañado
or girl
Principle
Principio
de no
of noncriminalización
criminalization
por
status
due
to
migratorio
migration
status
Principle
Principio de
of Participarticipación
pation
Challenges in the Latin American and Caribbean
region in terms of ensuring the rights to family life,
non-separation, and family reunification of
unaccompanied migrant boys and girls
• Some advances regarding bi-national agreements for the
repatriation of unaccompanied boys and girls;
• The legislation has yet to consider the Child’s Best
Interest as a criterion to suspend a deportation action;
• Insufficient legal mechanisms of due process to prevent
the separation of families in deportation processes.
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Advances and challenges in the Latin American and
Caribbean region in terms of ensuring the rights to
family life, non-separation, and family reunification of
unaccompanied migrant boys and girls
• Most of the laws in the countries in the region do not
consider a judicial proceeding in cases of expulsion of
migrants.
• In many countries, administrative – and not legal –
authorities are the ones determining the separation
of parents from their children in migration processes.
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Challenges in the Latin American and Caribbean
region in terms of ensuring the rights to family life,
non-separation, and family reunification of
unaccompanied migrant boys and girls
• Insufficient legal mechanisms to
facilitate participation of the child in
migration procedures.
• Most State norms have yet to
incorporate the principle of family
unity or, specifically, family
reunification.
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Alternatives for States to ensure the
right to family life of unaccompanied migrant children
as a lasting solution
• To arrange for the return of boys and girls, in order to be
reunited with their parents, other family members, and
loved ones in the country of origin or, if this is not
possible, to be incorporated into childhood protection
programs in the country of origin.
• To arrange for their stay in the country of destination,
their migration regularization and, if it is in their best
interest, to take actions to allow their parents to stay, gain
regular migration status, or enter the country, in order to
achieve family reunification. This option has not been
sufficiently developed in the region.
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Thank you…
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