The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has issued a stark warning about the increasingly desperate situation faced by migrant children in Latin America and the Caribbean. According to the agency, the number of child migrants in the region has reached a record high, driven largely by persistent poverty, increased violence, and a lack of opportunities.
The UNHCR estimates that up to 2,500 unaccompanied children are arriving in Latin America and the Caribbean each year, with many crossing the U.S. border and attempting to reach Canada. Many other children migrate within the region, often fleeing violence, poverty, and natural disasters.
The increasing number of child migrants has put pressure on host countries, with the UNHCR noting that governments in the region are struggling to meet the complex set of needs of these children and adolescents. As such, many vulnerable migrants are effectively trapped in a state of ineffective protection, leaving them exposed to exploitation and human trafficking.
In addition, the UNHCR notes that child migrants often end up in precarious living conditions and without access to education and healthcare. Furthermore, they are often unable to obtain legal status, meaning that they are at risk of being detained and deported.
The agency is calling on governments in the region to implement a comprehensive approach to the protection of child migrants, including strengthening child protection systems and setting up specific programs to address their needs.
In a statement, UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler urged governments to put in place measures to ensure the rights of these vulnerable migrants are respected, noting that “the costs in terms of human dignity, health and economic development are significant if we fail to provide them with the protection they deserve.”
The agency has also called on all countries to ratify the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child in order to ensure that the rights of all children, including migrants, are respected and protected.