Examines the situation of separated children (under age 18) in Western Europe, including how they got there and why they fled their countries of origin. Separated children have come into or across Europe for the last 100 years from such diverse countries as Albania, Angola, China, Columbia, Hungary, Iraq, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Without the protective security of family, these minors often do not have the wherewithal to survive in a foreign, adult world. Moreover, human rights violations of children are widespread. This report analyzes more than 200 case studies of refugee children from 28 countries and finds that in many instances they are escaping oppression based on ethnicity, religion, political opinion, and gender; torture; poverty and deprivation; family breakdown; and economic or sexual exploitation. In addition, some children seek educational opportunities or join a relative in Europe. Among the report’s recommendations are: (1) development of international guidelines on children’s human rights; (2) harmonization of asylum policies across European Union states as well as adoption by EU members of a legal basis for protecting the rights of children; (3) legislation to criminalize trafficking in children; and (4) training of professionals on issues associated with separated children.
