UNHCR - Children in the News

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Children

Almost half the people of concern to UNHCR are children. They need special care.

Other Children's Organizations

Refugee Children and Education

Education is a fundamental right of the child, one that is vital in restoring hope and dignity.

Refugee Children: Escape from Persecution and War

This brochure is designed for young readers.

United Nations Children's Fund

Violence against Children of Concern to UNHCR

Information Resources on Children

United Nations Special Session on Children

A special UN meeting to review a decade of work in helping the world's victimised children and discuss future projects was held May 8-10 2002. The outcome document, 'A World Fit for Children' outlines a strong focused agenda for the present decade.

United Nations Study on Violence against Children

The UN Secretary-General's Study on Violence against Children was a global effort to paint a detailed picture of the nature, extent and causes of violence against children, and to propose clear recommendations for action to prevent and respond to it.

Through the Eyes of a Child: Refugee Children Speak about Violence

A report on participatory assessments carried out with refugee and returnee children in Southern Africa, 2005-2007.

UNHCR's 5 Priorities for Refugee Children

Inter-Agency Guiding Principles on Unaccompanied and Separated Children

The guiding principles seek to ensure that all actions and decisions taken concerning separated children are anchored in a protection framework and respect the principles of family unity and the best interests of the child.

Amin's Escape. From 'Refugee Children: Escape from Persecution and War', pp. 8-13

An illustrated story about a ten-year old refugee boy from Kabul, Afghanistan.

Same Spaces, Different Places

The divergent perspectives of children and adults regarding violence against children in refugee settlements in western Uganda (pdf, 4.9Mb)

Action for the Rights of Children (ARC)

Action for the Rights of Children (ARC): Critical Issues - Child Soldiers

Briefing notes for facilitators, training materials, resources.

Summary of UNHCR's Executive Committee Conclusion on Children at Risk

Summary Note UNHCR's Strategy and Activities concerning Refugee Children

UNHCR's Efforts Assessed

A team of international experts has undertaken a worldwide review of UNHCR's efforts to protect refugee children

US$1000

Provides a therapeutic feeding kit, which helps feed 100 children.

Summary update of Machel study follow-up activities in 2001-2002

"Adults go to war, but they don't realize what damage they are doing to children." - A Nicaraguan child

Teaching About Refugees, History

History includes refugees

Throughout history, political turmoil has victimized many civilian families, forcing them to flee their homes. Refugee outflows and other massive displacements of people are a key aspect of many international crises. For children, in particular, looking at world events from the point of view of a refugee family can give new meaning and a sense of reality to events that may otherwise seem abstract and far away. The theme can be introduced in:

Medieval/early modern history: The religious wars.

Contemporary history: World War I, the Russian Revolution, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Second World War and Nazism, colonization and decolonization in Africa, Soviet influence in Central and Eastern Europe, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Vietnam War, the dictatorships in Latin-America - all these events and many more have victimized millions of people and forced them to flee their homes, families and communities.

9-11 year olds	Refugees in History Unit Plan Lesson Plans Lesson 1: Why do people move to another country? Lessons 2 and 3: What do you see in your mind? Lesson 4: Blackboard summary of reasons for flight Lesson 5: Asylum
12-14 year olds	The Rwandan Crisis 1994 Unit Plan Lesson Plans Lessons 1 and 2: How did the Rwandan crisis start? Lesson 3: The 'G' word Lessons 4 and 5: Going back home
15-18 year olds	Population Displacement in the Commonwealth of Independent States Unit Plan Lesson Plans Lesson 1: Where do people go when they are forced to move? Lessons 2 and 3: Migration within the CIS Lesson 4: Multi-ethnicity Lessons 5 and 6: Case study - Tajikistan

2009 Dialogue: Related Themes

The following links are intended to enable participants to understand and navigate through the complex topic of challenges to persons of concern in cities and urban settings.

Teaching About Refugees, Civic Education

Refugees are a painful living reminder of the failure of societies to exist in peace. People should be able to lead productive and independent lives in their home communities. Sadly, they are sometimes forced to flee because of abuse, violations of their rights and various forms of social breakdown, including war. These issues are linked to concepts such as justice, equality, tolerance, freedom, minority rights and the formation of community. Refugees can be the subject of work units on human rights, nationalism, racism, immigration, persecution and war.

9-11 year olds	Refugee Children Unit Plan Lesson Plans Lesson 1: Jacob's Story Lessons 2 and 3: Children's Rights
12-14 year olds	Refugee Teenagers Unit Plan Lesson Plans Lessons 1 and 2: This is for real Lesson 3: Separation Lesson 4: Being Mum or Dad when they are gone Lesson 5: Military recruitment
15-18 year olds	Refugee Women Unit Plan Lesson Plans Lesson 1: Perceptions of Women and Girls in Different Communities Lessons 2 and 3: Refugee Women - Survivors Twice Lesson 4: Empowerment - Helping Refugee Women and Girls to Help Themselves

Teaching About Refugees, Language & Literature

Refugees contribute to the culture of their host community. Some are well-known artists, painters, poets or novelists. Dante Alighieri created the major part of his work during his exile. Playwright Bertold Brecht, authors Thomas Mann and Franz Kafka, poets Pablo Neruda and Jorge Semprun, musician Miguel Angel Estrellas, painters Lucian Freud and Remedios Varo - all suffered periods of exile which, in some cases, deeply colored their work. The theme of exile can be studied in literature, the history of music and art. Texts addressing refugee issues can also be used in language courses.

9-11 year olds	Refugee Children Unit Plan Lesson Plans Lessons 1 and 2: Refugee children tell their stories Lesson 3: A morality story Lesson 4: Adjectives Lesson 5: Story writing
12-14 year olds	The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig Unit Plan Lesson Plans Lessons 1 and 2 Lessons 3 and 4 Lesson 5 Lessons 6 and 7 Lesson 8 Lesson 9 Lesson 10
15-18 year olds	The Depiction of Refugee Experience in Literature Unit Plan Lesson Plans Lesson 1: "Concerning the Label Emigrant" by Bertolt Brecht Lesson 2: "All tomorrows are the same" by Misganaw Worknehe Lesson 3: Critical analysis

Infant Feeding Related Internet Links

Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN)
Visit the ENN homepage for the Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Core Group.
HIV and Infant feeding
The UN guidance states that "when replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe, avoidance of all breastfeeding by HIV-infected mothers is recommended. Otherwise, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended during the first months of life."
Nutrition health topic
Promoting proper feeding for infants and young children.
World Breastfeeding
An early start on breast milk saves infants' lives.

Teaching About Refugees, Art

Refugees contribute to the culture of their host community. Some are well-known artists, painters, poets or novelists. Dante Alighieri created the major part of his work during his exile. Playwright Bertold Brecht, authors Thomas Mann and Franz Kafka, poets Pablo Neruda and Jorge Semprun, musician Miguel Angel Estrellas, painters Lucian Freud and Remedios Varo - all suffered periods of exile which, in some cases, deeply colored their work. The theme of exile can be studied in literature, the history of music and art.

9-11 year olds	A Response Through Artwork Unit Plan Lesson Plans Lessons 1 and 2: What do you see in your mind? Lessons 3 and 4: What refugee children draw
12-14 year olds	Repatriation and Graphic Communication Unit Plan Lesson Plans Lesson 1: Going home Lesson 2: Picking up the pieces Lessons 3 and 4: Getting on with life
15-18 year olds	Art in Nazi Germany - When Art and Politics didn't Agree Unit Plan Lesson Plans Lesson 1: The state of art in Germany between the world wars Lessons 2 and 3: Persecution and exile Lessons 4 and 5: Entarte Kunst

Crisis in the Central African Republic

UNHCR/Partners Bring Aid to North Kivu

Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh

Uganda: The gift of education

As the violence in northern Uganda abates, UNHCR helps children go back to school.

Nike plus Human Race

On 31.08.08 one million people around the world will run a 10 K like no other. The Nike+ Human Race will raise money for refugee children to help them learn and play.

Luol Deng's Message

NBA player and Special Supporter for UNHCR invites you to run the Human Race for refugee children.

	UNHCR concerned about children in mixed migration flows through Mexico	12 November 2009

	Clowns bring smiles and inspiration to displaced people in eastern Congo	7 October 2009

	Traumatized women and children try to cope with displacement in Yemen	24 September 2009

	UNHCR alarmed by detention of unaccompanied children in Lesvos, Greece	28 August 2009

	FC Barcelona plays Manchester City – and refugee children are the winners	24 August 2009

	Armed recruitment of children in Colombia forces indigenous off their land	12 August 2009

	War: creating a lifetime of nightmares for children	17 July 2009

	UNHCR sees education as fundamental for South Sudan reintegration	6 July 2009

	Iraqi refugee youngster flown to Monaco from Syria for heart surgery	30 June 2009

	UNHCR makes dream of education come true for Myanmar refugee boy	22 June 2009

UNHCR: The UN Refugee Agency

Children in the News