This report seeks to analyze and critique the treatment of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the United States and Australia. Part II describes the current policies and legal doctrine in refugee and asylum law as they pertain to unaccompanied minors entering into, and already inside, the United States and Australia. Part III describes the actual legal treatment of, or conditions faced by, unaccompanied minors in the United States and Australia. Part IV compares the practices in the United States and Australia to the international law and international agency recommendations which seek to guide the treatment of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum. The comparison reveals that the treatment of unaccompanied minors in both the United States and Australia violates international human rights law pertaining to children and should be redressed immediately. Finally, Part V provides recommendations to guide the United States and Australia in the process of making changes that are vital to the well-being of unaccompanied children fleeing dangerous situations. (Description from source)
