UNHCR - Protecting Refugees

A Child's World

In recent decades literally tens of millions of children have been given a new chance to grow and prosper through better medical care, schooling or, in the case of refugees, through the protection of UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations. But despite these accomplishments, life has never been so desperate for many of the world's youngest citizens, including the estimated 25 million children currently uprooted from their homes.

UN Study on Violence against Children
The UN Secretary-General appointed an Independent Expert to lead a global study on Violence against Children. The UN Secretary-General's Study on Violence against Children was presented to the Third Committee of the General Assembly in New York on 11 October 2006. The Study promotes action to prevent and to eliminate violence against children at international, regional, national and local levels. The Independent Expert will continue in 2007, and will present a progress report to the General Assembly in New York in 2007.

Summary update of Machel study follow-up activities, 2001-2002
Highlighting major protection issues for refugee children worldwide.

UNHCR's efforts assessed
A team of international experts has undertaken a worldwide review of UNHCR's efforts to protect refugee children (Click here for the Executive summary.)

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.

Refugee Children
Untold numbers of children, including millions of refugees, continue to live in unimaginable conditions around the world.

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.

Violence against Children of Concern to UNHCR
"You told us about your lives!" Reports-back to children who participated in the UNHCR research study on violence in the lives of refugee and returnee children in Africa (child-friendly versions)

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 Handbook for the Protection of Women and Girls
This Handbook describes some of the protection challenges faced by women and girls of concern to UNHCR and outlines various strategies to be adopted with partners to tackle these challenges.
First edition, published January 2008

Summary Note UNHCR's Strategy and Activities concerning Refugee Children

UNHCR's 5 Priorities for Refugee Children

Guidelines on the Formal Determination of Best Interests of the Child
Provisional release, May 2006 [PDF, 57 pp., 464 Kb]

Refugee Children: Escape from Persecution and War
This brochure is designed for young readers. [PDF, 36pp., 4.87Mb] Read more here

Refugee Teenagers: Escape and Protection from Persecution and War
This brochure is designed for teenagers. [PDF, 24pp., 1.2Mb] Read more here

Photo Gallery
Refugee Youth: Facing the future with hope and courage

Latest news on refugee children
Stories and issues from around the world

Refugee children and education
Education is a fundamental right of the child, one that is vital in restoring hope and dignity to people driven from their homes, a tool to help them get back on their feet and build a better future. Read more.

Convention on the Rights of the Child