Trends
in Unaccompanied and Separated Children Seeking Asylum In Europe,
2000
November 2001
Division
of Operational Support
United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees
Geneva
Also available at: http://www.
unhcr.ch
Contact: hqcs00@unhcr.ch
Introduction
1. “Unaccompanied children” (also called “unaccompanied minors”) are children under 18 years of age who have been separated from both parents and are not being cared for by an adult who, by law or custom, is responsible to do so[1]. However, recent experience has highlighted that, even in emergency situations, not all children are found to be unaccompanied as defined above, even though many have been separated from their previous legal or customary caregiver. Such children, although living with extended family members, may face risks similar to those encountered by unaccompanied refugee children. Consequently, the term “separated child” is now widely used to draw attention to the potential protection needs of this group. “Separated children” are thus defined as children under 18 years of age who are separated from both parents or from their previous legal or customary primary caregiver[2]. Considering that in the European context both terms are used, the abbreviation “UAMs/SC” is applied throughout this note.
2. UAMs/SC may be seeking asylum because of fear of persecution or the lack of protection due to human rights violations, armed conflict or disturbances in their own country. The fact that these children and adolescents are separated from their parents or their legal or customary caregiver increases the risks of them being exposed to exploitation, including trafficking, or abuse. Due to their special protection needs, including access to tracing and family reunion, the identification of UAMs/SC among those seeking asylum is vitally important[3].
3. This note presents the available statistics on UAMs/SC seeking asylum in Europe. The data were reported by Governments and compiled by UNHCR. Generally, the extent of the problem of UAMs/SC seeking asylum in Europe is difficult to establish due to a lack of accurate data. Basic figures on UAMs/SC seeking asylum are not available for a number of countries, either because the asylum statistics do not make the necessary distinction or because data on foreign UAMs/SC arriving or residing in the country do not indicate whether the child has applied for asylum. Some countries provided data in the form of estimates without the necessary details, such as country of origin, age or sex.
4. Comparing national data on UAMs/SC seeking asylum poses a serious challenge due to the differences in definitions and recording practices. For instance, in Germany the age limit for UAMs/SC was found to be 16, compared to 18 years as laid down in the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In Greece, data were only available for unaccompanied persons aged 0 to 24[4]. In Belgium, information is available for different categories of UAMs/SC. While this note presents the data for minor asylum-seekers who arrived alone in Belgium (848 in 2000), the figure almost doubles (1,590) when, in line with the international definition provided in paragraph 1, minors who are accompanied by relatives are also included.
5. National practices also differ when it comes to the updating of information captured upon arrival. For instance, if the age of the UAM/SC proves to be inaccurate or if the child joins a close relative staying in the asylum country, some countries adjust their statistics whereas other countries retain the original information. The data presented here should thus be considered as very indicative only, particularly when comparing the experience of different countries.
Total number of asylum applications
6. During 2000, some 16,100 UAMs/SC applied for asylum in the 26 European countries listed in Table 1. The Netherlands received the largest number of asylum claims lodged by UAMs/SC (6,705), followed by the United Kingdom (2,733) and Hungary (1,170).
7. UAMs/SC seeking asylum constituted 4% of the total number of asylum-seekers lodging a claim in 2000. However, the proportion of UAMs/SC in the total number of applications lodged differs significantly between asylum countries. In Hungary and the Netherlands, UAMs/SC accounted for 15% of all applications lodged during 2000, in Slovakia this proportion was 9%, whereas in all other countries UAMs/SC constituted 5% or less of the total number of asylum-seekers. As a result of these varying proportions, Germany, which received 18% of all asylum claims lodged in Europe during 2000, received only 6% of all claims submitted by UAMs/SC, whereas Hungary, which received 2% of all asylum applications, received 7% of all UAMs/SC claims (Table 1).
8. In the 17 countries for which data were available for 1999 and for 2000, both the annual number of UAMs/SC (15,000-16,000) as well as the percentage of UAMs/SC in the total number of asylum claimants (4%) has remained stable.
Origin of asylum-seekers
9.
A number of observations can be made regarding the origin of UAMs/SC
seeking asylum in Europe. First,
there are large variations in the origin of UAMs/SC applying for asylum in the
countries listed in Table 2. A
second observation is that the main countries of origin of UAMs/SC are quite
different from the main countries of origin of asylum-seekers in general. For instance, whereas Rwandan
asylum-seekers lodged 13% of all UAMs/SC claims submitted in Belgium, they
accounted for only 2% of the total number asylum applications.
10. A third conclusion is
that the proportion of UAMs/SC in the total number of applications differs not
only between the nationalities in the same asylum country, but also for the
same nationality between asylum countries. Thus, share of UAMs/SC in the number of Chinese applications
submitted in the Netherlands in 2000 (67%) contrasts significantly with the
proportion of UAMs/SC in the total number of asylum applications submitted
(15%). Moreover, it differs
remarkably from the proportion of UAMs/SC in Chinese asylum applications
submitted in the UK 3%).
Age and sex of asylum applicants
11. A limited number of countries provided information on the age and
sex of UAMs/SC seeking asylum. As
regards age, the analysis is further hindered by the differences in reporting
formats (by year of birth, by age or in various age groups). Moreover, the quality of the age
statistics is affected by difficulties in age assessment of minors.
12. The available data suggest that UAMs/SC are predominantly 16 and 17
years old. For the six countries
with comparable information, this age group accounted for some 50% of all
UAMs/SC seeking asylum. In three
of the six countries, all UAMs/SC seeking asylum were in this age group (see
box).
13. UAMs/SC seeking asylum are predominantly male. Of the 8,760 UAMs/SC for which information was available, only 27% were female. In three of the seven countries for which information was available, the percentage female UAMs/SC asylum-seekers was 5% or less (see box).
Conclusions
14. The information presented
here suggests that trends in UAMs/SC seeking asylum in Europe are quite
distinct from the general asylum patterns. Moreover, it appears that the basic characteristics (origin,
sex and age) of UAMs/SC seeking asylum differ significantly from country to
country.
15. This short review has
revealed significant differences in national definitions for unaccompanied and
separated children seeking asylum, jeopardizing a basic analysis of the problem
at the international level. To
assess the exact scope and nature of UAMs/SC seeking asylum in Europe, there is
a need to harmonize national definitions.
16.
Important gaps exist in the availability of basic data. In order to monitor and address the
special needs of these UAMs/SC seeking asylum, minimum information is required
on the total number of applications as well as on key characteristics (origin,
age, sex, etc.). Moreover, it is
important to identify UAMs/SC not only in the asylum application process, but
also when the claims are being determined.
