Describes the practices and policies required to implement and protect the rights of separated children in Canada, from the time of arrival through to long-term solutions that are in their best interests. Prepared by the International Bureau for Children’s Rights (IBCR) and based on the principles contained in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the statement discusses the goals of the IBCR’s Network on Separated Children in Canada, defines separated children, and provides background on and endorsements of the Best Practice Statement. Among the guiding principles of the statement are consideration of the best interests of the child, nondiscrimination, respect for cultural identity, provision of information, confidentiality, inter-organizational cooperation, staff training, and durability and timeliness of services. Among the topics addressed by the statement itself are access to territory, child victims of trafficking, migrant children, identification and referral, family tracing and contact, appointment of a guardian, registration and documentation, age assessment, freedom from detention, right to participate in decisions, interim provision of care, health care, education, language and training, and culture and recreation, the refugee determination process, and long-term solutions that include asylum and return to country of origin.
