A/RES/58/150
Recalling the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 2 and
the 1951 Convention 3 and the 1967 Protocol thereto 4 relating to the Status of
Refugees,
1.
Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; 5
2.
Expresses its deep concern at the continuing plight of unaccompanied
refugee minors, and emphasizes once again the urgent need for their early
identification and for timely, detailed and accurate information on their number and
whereabouts;
Stresses the importance of providing adequate resources for programmes
3.
of identification, registration, documentation and tracing of unaccompanied minors
and their reunification with their families;
Calls upon the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
4.
Refugees, in cooperation with other relevant United Nations bodies, to incorporate
into its programmes policies that aim at preventing the separation of refugee
families, conscious of the importance of family unity;
Calls upon all Governments, the Secretary-General, the Office of the
5.
High Commissioner, all United Nations organizations, as well as other international
organizations and non-governmental organizations concerned to exert the maximum
effort to assist and protect refugee minors and to expedite the return and
reunification with their families of unaccompanied refugee minors;
Urges the Office of the High Commissioner, all United Nations
6.
organizations, as well as other international organizations and non-governmental
organizations concerned to take appropriate steps to mobilize resources
commensurate with the needs of unaccompanied refugee minors and for their
reunification with their families;
Calls upon all States and other parties to armed conflict to comply with
7.
their obligations under international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee
law and, in this regard, calls upon States parties to respect fully the provisions of the
Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 6 and related instruments, and to respect the
provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,2 which accord children
affected by armed conflict special protection and treatment;
8.
Condemns all acts of exploitation of unaccompanied refugee minors,
including their use as soldiers or human shields in armed conflict and their forced
recruitment into military forces, and any other acts that endanger their safety and
personal security;
Acknowledges that education is among the most effective initial means of
9.
ensuring protection for unaccompanied minors, especially girls, by shielding them
from exploitative activities such as child labour, military recruitment or sexual
exploitation and abuse;
_______________
2
Resolution 44/25, annex.
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545.
4
Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791.
5
A/58/299.
6
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970–973.
3
2