Europe's Dystopia: The Exploitation of Unaccompanied and Separated Child Refugees

In: Policy perspectives, Volume 15, Issue 3

Abstract

This article highlights the exploitation of unaccompanied and separated child refugees in Europe. Critically, the European Union has a manifest responsibility to child refugees, as outlined in both the Geneva Convention (1951) that frameworks the Status of Refugees (1967 Protocol), along with the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Moreover, as signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child, Europe has a moral and legal responsibility to act in the best interests of the child. Unfortunately, EU has failed to comply with the obligations and tens of thousands of children are staying in appalling, exploitative and negligent conditions. At present, at least 170,000 unaccompanied and separated child refugees (UASCR) throughout the European Union are living in extreme duress, violence and/or sexual exploitation.