Millions of 'children on the move' without protection is unacceptable – UN refugee agency chief
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 8 December 2016 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, Millions of 'children on the move' without protection is unacceptable – UN refugee agency chief, 8 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/584ab51140e.html [accessed 5 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
8 December 2016 - Highlighting the challenges confronting the protection of millions of children, many of whom are separated from their families as they flee wars and persecution, the top United Nations refugee official today called for prompt action to stave off the risk of losing an entire generation.
"[Children] are exposed to criminal smugglers and traffickers. The fact that they often have no protection - even from people traveling with them - exposes them to all types of exploitation," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, opening his Dialogue on Protection Challenges in Geneva today.
"We cannot accept this. We need to fight back, we need to find ways to address this situation," he stressed.
According to Mr. Grandi's Office (UNHCR), children account for 51 per cent of the total 21.3 million refugees around the world and many of them end up in detention facilities, that can have a serious impact on their physical and mental health as well as their life-long development. They also miss out on years of education as a result of displacement.
Children are also particularly vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence, exploitation and the risk of statelessness.
In his remarks, High Commissioner Grandi recalled the commitments made by UN Member States this past September UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants and called on them to ensure that refugee and migrant children are protected.
