An "unaccompanied child" is defined as one who is separated from both parents and other relatives and is not being cared for by any adult legally or customarily responsible for them. Unaccompanied or separated children (UASC) are particularly vulnerable to migration risks due to their young age and lack of adult supervision. These children may be unaccompanied or separated for various reasons, including persecution, international conflict, civil war, trafficking, accidental separation during the journey, or the pursuit of better economic opportunities.
Because of their separation from family and the distance from home, unaccompanied children in migration are especially susceptible and require specific, tailored protection. Their vulnerability exposes them to numerous risks, such as extreme violence, exploitation, and various forms of abuse, both before and after arriving in their destination countries.
Human Rights and Access to Services
Unaccompanied minors often face severe restrictions on their human rights, including limited access to essential services such as education, housing, and healthcare in the host country. They may be denied entry or detained by border or immigration officials. Even if admitted, they often do not receive age- and gender-sensitive processing of their asylum claims. Unaccompanied and separated girls are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence, including domestic violence. Many of these children lack proper identification, registration, age assessment, documentation, family tracing, guardianship systems, and legal advice.
Risks of Exploitation and Abuse
Unaccompanied children are at significantly higher risk of sexual exploitation, abuse, military recruitment, child labor, and detention. They frequently face discrimination and barriers to accessing basic needs such as food, shelter, housing, health services, and education. The absence of safe migration pathways compels them to undertake perilous journeys, often with the assistance of smugglers, leaving them highly vulnerable to violence and abuse during their travels. Migrant and refugee children, especially when unaccompanied or separated, are susceptible to sexual violence, forced labor, and human trafficking. Their vulnerability is further exacerbated by limited access to essential services and justice.
Health Risks
Compared to adult migrants, unaccompanied minors face additional health risks, which vary depending on age, gender, abilities, and geographical context. The developmental stages of childhood and adolescence make them more susceptible to disease and trauma—risks that are further magnified by their isolation from a protective family unit. Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), unaccompanied minors are entitled to the "highest attainable standard of health" and protection against "discrimination." Therefore, their health should be understood within the broader context of child and adolescent well-being, with an emphasis on long-term and intergenerational impacts.
The reasons for child migration are diverse and may include escaping persecution, armed conflict, exploitation, or poverty. Some children are sent by family members to ensure their survival or access education and employment, while others may be trying to reunite with family members who have migrated earlier. Regardless of their reasons for migrating, unaccompanied children face significant risks and challenges that demand targeted protection and support to ensure their rights and well-being are upheld.
