On the international scene , the principle instrument establishing obligations for children by the States is the Convention on the rights of the child, adopted in 1989. More specifically, the recommendations regarding refugee children and refugee claimants in Refugee Children: Guidelines on Protection and care , republished in 1994, provides the direction to follow in protecting refugee children. For further information: we invite you to consult the following folders:
Amongst these recommendations, it is strongly recommended that the States apply the broaden definition of separated children, identify and register them and carry out their responsibility to provide to these children an appropriate interim assistance.
Furthermore, when appropriated, separated children should be reunited with their family. These children should also have access to a legal guardian or an advisor. That person must be duly informed of the questions related to the well being of the child and be capable to support the child during his or her claim to the authorities for asylum.
In Europe, certain codes of conduct on separated children are found in the Separated Children in Europe Programme (SCEP) created in 1997 following a common initiative of certain members of the International Alliance Save the Children and UN HCR . Twenty-eight countries participate in this program.
Considering the constant increase in the number of separated children that arrive in European countries and the inappropriate treatment of their situation concerning their protection and their demand for asylum, le SCEP has given for its mission to defend the rights and the best interest of the separated children in Europe .
These children are taken under the responsibility of the States because they establish a common policy and they favor best practices. In this sense, approved partnership by the States members exist between organizations dedicated to the defense of children's rights and European institutions. The UNHCR's responsibility in regard to SCEP is to assure the protection of refugee children and children who request asylum. On the other hand, the International Alliance contributes to the protection of children's rights.
In Canada , since the Second World War, many children came alone as refugee claimants. In the early forties, Canada put in place special programs for the arrival of young refugees. We recognize today that the proportion of refugee children coming to Canada is low. In 2000, Canada had approximately 10 000 refugees recognized in about thirty countries. Of this number, only a few were separated children. However, these figures do not reflect the reality. It is not all the children who automatically request asylum. Also, many children who seem to be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians are in fact separated children.
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