A/RES/69/187
Migrant children and adolescents
outside their country of origin,14 and taking note of the general discussion of the
Committee in 2012 on the rights of all children in the context of international
migration,
Recalling all previous resolutions of the General Assembly, the Commission
on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council on the protection of the human
rights of migrants and Commission on Population and Development resolution
2013/1 of 26 April 2013, entitled “New trends in migration: demographic aspects”,15
as well as the Declaration of the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and
Development, adopted on 3 October 2013,16
Recognizing the serious humanitarian situation in some regions related to mass
migration of accompanied and unaccompanied children, including adolescents,
defined as those under 18 years of age, or those separated from their parents, who
face vulnerable situations by attempting to cross international borders without the
required travel documents,
Concerned by the fact that migrant children, including adolescents, in
particular those in an irregular situation, may be exposed to serious human rights
violations and abuses at various points in their journey, which can threaten their
physical, emotional and psychological well-being in the countries of origin, transit
and destination, and that many irregular migrant children, including adolescents,
may not be aware of their rights and may be exposed to crimes and human rights
abuses committed by transnational criminal organizations and common criminals,
including theft, kidnapping, extortion, threats, trafficking in persons, including
forced labour, child labour, sexual abuse and exploitation, physical harm and death,
Underlining the importance for States, in cooperation with civil society,
including non-governmental organizations, workers’ organizations and the private
sector, among other relevant stakeholders, to undertake information campaigns
aimed at clarifying opportunities, limitations, risks and rights in the context of
migration in order to enable everyone to make informed decisions and to prevent
anyone from utilizing dangerous means to cross international borders,
Aware that the migration of accompanied and unaccompanied children,
including adolescents, may be the result of diverse causes and factors, such as
poverty, crisis situations, lack of social and economic opportunities in their
communities of origin, the death of one or both parents, the search for family
reunification, all forms of violence and lack of personal safety,
Recognizing that undocumented and unaccompanied migrant children,
including adolescents, should be promptly placed in the least restrictive setting, for
the shortest possible period of time, that is in the best interest of the child and
respects their human rights,
Encouraging States to adopt alternatives to detention that take into account the
best interests of the child, as a primary consideration, and respect the human rights
of migrant children, including adolescents,
_______________
14
See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 41 and corrigendum
(A/61/41 and Corr.1), annex II.
15
See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2013, Supplement No. 5 (E/2013/25), chap. I,
sect. B.
16
Resolution 68/4.
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