Protection and care of children on the move: ISS’ actions over the years.

One of the key objectives of ISS is to ensure that respect for human rights is accorded to every individual, especially to children in vulnerable situations, such as children deprived of their families and children on the move.

The ‘Recommended Principles for Children on the Move and Other Children affected by Migration’, defines Children on the Move (COM) as children moving for a variety of reasons, voluntarily or involuntarily, within or between countries, with or without their parents or other primary caregivers. Other Children affected by Migration refers to children remaining in the country of origin after their parents have migrated, and to children living with their parents in the destination country.

Children are moving across borders for a variety of causes including economic, political, religious and climate related conditions. They are looking for a better future but unfortunately they are at high risk of falling victim to all forms of abuse and exploitation, and being deprived of their basic rights.

According to The International Data Alliance for Children on the Move (IDAC), in 2020, there were an estimated 35.5 million international migrant children globally, the largest number ever recorded. This corresponds to around 1 in 66 children worldwide living outside their country of birth, whatever their reason for having crossed borders. This number has probably increased over the last years.

Since ISS’ foundation in 1924, ISS Members, in the first place established in seaports across North America, Europe, and Japan, provided assistance to migrants fleeing the horrific consequences of the first world war. ISS members provided tailored psychosocial and legal support services, including family reunification, to migrants, including unaccompanied children on the move.

Embark with us on this journey, where we will explore how ISS has advocated and acted for the protection of children on the move. We will publish three short articles highlighting ISS achievements, namely 1. Protection and care of children on the move: ISS’ actions over the years,  2. Protection and care of children on the move: the example of West Africa and 3. Recent actions and spotlight on ISS Manual Children on the Move.

In this first article, we will start with a general overview of ISS actions since 1924. Building on its expertise of cross border casework, ISS undertook key activities in favour of children on the move:

. Between 1925 and 1926, the ISS Network prepared a series of study reports directed at different institutions including the League of Nations (now the United Nations) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), both established in 1919, to influence international policymaking but also to enact reform in national legislation, policies and administrative procedures with regard to migration.

. In 1926, ISS published a first report on ‘Problems of children during the process of migration’.

. ISS continued to work closely with other international organisations such as the International Refugee Organisation, founded in 1946 to deal with the massive refugee problem created by World War II, now called the UNHCR. ISS carried out a training in collaboration with them.

. In 1987, ISS published a guide on ‘Unaccompanied children in emergency situations’. Some ISS members started to focus on children on the move and develop special projects such as ISS West Africa, ISS USA and ISS Italy.

. In 2016, the ISS International Council, the highest decision-making body of the network, voted a motion that protection and care of COM is a core activity of ISS.

. In 2017, ISS published a practical manual, Children on the move: from protection towards a quality sustainable solution. The manual, available in Spanish and English,  became widely acknowledged by professionals and NGOs working in the field of children on the move. It is a hands-on tool that helps workers ensure that the child’s best interests are at the heart of decision-making. The richness of the manual is that it is based on the daily casework of ISS members targeting this group of children in all regions of the world – from the initial contact with the child to finding a quality sustainable solution.

. Since 2017 until now, ISS has actively participated in international advocacy and standard setting. For example, in October 2019, ISS participated in the Initiative for Child Rights in the Global Compacts and contributed to shaping the CMW-CRC Joint General Comments NO. 22 + 23.

. Between 2018 – 2022, ISS was the main driver in the development and organisation of the MOOC Training Course Caring for Children moving alone. 

ISS continues to advocate and run regional projects for the protection of children on the move. Please read the ISS/IRC Fact sheet Children on the move, Casework, Technical Assistance, Research and advocacy to have a complete overview of ISS actions and stay tuned to read the next two articles.

Sources :

ISS/IRC Fact sheet Children on the move, Casework, Technical Assistance, Research and advocacy.

9 facts about children on the move International Data Alliance for Children on the Move (IDAC), 2024.