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Children's Concerns
Forcible displacement exacerbates childrens' exposure to violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect. Children are at particular risk and require special attention due to their dependence upon adults to survive, their vulnerability to physical and psychological trauma, and the developmental needs that must be met to ensure normal growth and development. Although children enjoy comprehensive rights under international law, more often than not refugee, other displaced and stateless children are deprived of the most basic ones, including the right not to face discrimination, the right to health and the right to education. This is most notably the case when refugee children lack access to child protection systems in the country of asylum.
While all children have common needs, certain groups may face increased protection risks. These include unaccompanied and separated children; adolescents, especially teenage mothers and their children; victims of trafficking and sexual abuse; survivors of violence, in particular sexual and gender-based violence; children who get married under the age specified in national laws or are forced into unions; children who are or have been associated with armed groups; children in detention; children who face social discrimination; children with mental or physical disabilities; children living with or affected by HIV and AIDS; and children out of school.