25% of migrants in Latin America are children and all of them have the right to be with their families

A quarter of migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean are children and as such, Everyone has the right to protection and family unitystressed this Wednesday the acting regional director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Karin Hulshof recalled that families migrate because they have no other option when they are surrounded by unbearable levels of inequality, poverty or violence.

Likewise, the disasters and extreme weather events force many people to abandon their homes and take unexpected routes in search of refuge.

Risky trips

Their journeys are full of risks and expose them to situations that life threatening.

“Regardless of their immigration status and no matter where they are, children They always have the right to be with their family or caregivers.“as established by the Convention on the Rights of the Child,” Hulshof said.

In view of the practice of some countries to separate migrant families when they arrive on their territory, UNICEF reminded governments of their obligation to ensure that border and reception processes do not result in deliberate or involuntary family separation.

That only adds an extra layer of stress and trauma to uprooted people, the regional director said.

Migrant children have the right to apply for asylum

Whether they are travelling with their family or alone, “migrant and refugee children have the right to a process to properly assess their best interests and find sustainable solutions to their situation, including a greater integration and settlement in the current country of residence, repatriation to the country of origin or resettlement in a third country,” he said.

He also stressed that migrant children They have the right to apply for asylum and not be returned to places where their lives or well-being are at risk..

In this regard, UNICEF urged all governments in Latin America and the Caribbean to adopt procedures that keep families together and reunite children who have been separated with their caregivers.

Karin Hulshof noted that UNICEF remains committed to working with countries across the region to protect children and ensure that their migration policies consider the maximum benefit of the child.