UN Human Rights Council 49: UK statement during the Annual Discussion on Rights of the Child

F.P. Report

LONDON: The UK’s Global Ambassador for Human Rights, Rita French delivered the UK statement, during the Annual Discussion on Rights of the Child.

Thank you, Mr President.

Sadly, we know that families can become separated because of the nature of conflict and persecution and the speed and manner in which people are often forced to flee their country. When children are separated from their families, they are at greater risk of trafficking, exploitation, violence, abuse and neglect.

Since 2015, the UK has provided over £11.1bn in humanitarian funding to support the world’s most vulnerable people, including displaced children who may have lost one or more parent, and children formerly associated with armed groups.

The UK also provides a safe and legal route to bring families together on our own shores, through our domestic family reunion policy. This allows a partner and children under 18 of those granted protection in the UK to join them here, if they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country. Under this route we have granted over 39,000 visas since 2015, over half to children.

Distinguished panelists,

How can we ensure that the views of the most vulnerable children, including those who have been displaced and separated from their families, are meaningfully taken into account?