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: 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.

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.

Inter-agency Guiding Principles on Unaccompanied & Separated Children 1.A Comprehensive Approach 2.Preserving Family Unity 3.Tracing & Family Reunification 4.Care Arrangements 5.Durable Arrangements 6.Special Issues Related to Refugee Children 7.Promoting Children’s Rights

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

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 Principles for Determining Care Arrangements

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

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

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

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