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Family Reunification and Separated Children: World Vision’s Response International Refugee Rights Conference CCR Spring

Family Reunification and Separated Children: World Vision’s Response International Refugee Rights Conference CCR Spring 2006 Consultation. Sara L. Austin Senior Policy Advisor, World Vision Canada. Separated Children:

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Family Reunification and Separated Children: World Vision’s Response International Refugee Rights Conference CCR Spring

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  1. Family Reunification and Separated Children: World Vision’s Response International Refugee Rights Conference CCR Spring 2006 Consultation Sara L. Austin Senior Policy Advisor, World Vision Canada

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Inter-agency Guiding Principles on Unaccompanied & Separated Children • A Comprehensive Approach • Preserving Family Unity • Tracing & Family Reunification • Care Arrangements • Durable Arrangements • Special Issues Related to Refugee Children • Promoting Children’s Rights

  5. Key Stages in Family Reunification • Prevention • Identification • Registration • Documentation • Tracing • Verification • Reunification with family • Follow-up

  6. Principles for Determining Care Arrangements • 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

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