The general situation of refugee children in view of the UN-Convention on the Rights of the Child and their status in the Federal Republic of Germany

Seminar Paper , 2008 , 15 Pages , Grade: 10,4

Law - European and International Law, Intellectual Properties

Refugee children suffer from war or other forms of persecution in their countries of origin, many even continue to suffer human rights violations in the countries in which they seek asylum. Around half of the world's refugees are children, yet their rights and special supporting and protection needs as children are frequently neglected. The human rights violations that force children to flee from their homes are only a part of the hardships for many child refugees. Even after travelling across an international border to seek refuge, they remain vulnerable to hazardous labour exploitation, denial of education, physical abuse, routine detention, sexual abuse, cross-border attacks, militarization of refugee camps, and recruitment as soldiers.
The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the circumstances of refugee children, the UN-Convention on the Rights of the Child and describe the asylum-juridical contact with refugee children in the Federal Republic of Germany and above all examine, whether and to which extent this contact is contradictory to the central concern of the UN-Convention on the Rights of the Child.

B) The circumstances of refugee children
Adolescent- and child refugees are differentiated into accompanied and unaccompanied. Accompanied are those who flee with their parents and siblings, members of their family or other important bonding figures and role models. It is assumed that currently around 100,000 unaccompanied minors exist as refugees in Europe.
Children and adolescents are the most vulnerable and in need of support and protection. When children are removed from their normal cultural, economical and social environment, it may generate serious psychological problems such as a disruption of the emotional development and a profound sense of disorientation due to loss of role models like parents and relatives.

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

• A) Introduction
• B) The circumstances of refugee children
• C) The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• D) Refugee children in the Federal Republic of Germany
  • I. Countries of Origin and fleeing reasons...
  • II. The National Coalition for the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Germany (NC)......
  • III. Children's Rights in the view of German Federal Law...
• E) Conclusion......
• List of literature.......

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the circumstances of refugee children, focusing on the UN-Convention on the Rights of the Child and its application in the Federal Republic of Germany. The study examines whether and to what extent the asylum-juridical contact with refugee children in Germany contradicts the central concern of the UN-Convention on the Rights of the Child.

• The circumstances of refugee children, including the distinction between accompanied and unaccompanied minors.
• The UN-Convention on the Rights of the Child and its key provisions regarding children's rights.
• The legal framework for refugee children in Germany, including relevant national laws and policies.
• The challenges and contradictions faced by refugee children in Germany in relation to the UN-Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• The role of the National Coalition for the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Germany (NC) in advocating for the rights of refugee children.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The introduction provides a general overview of the challenges faced by refugee children, highlighting their vulnerability and the need for special support and protection. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the circumstances of refugee children and the role of international conventions in safeguarding their rights.

The chapter on the circumstances of refugee children delves into the specific challenges faced by both accompanied and unaccompanied minors. It explores the psychological impact of displacement and the unique vulnerabilities of children in this context.

The chapter on the UN-Convention on the Rights of the Child examines the key provisions of this international agreement, focusing on the rights of children in general and the specific needs of refugee children. It highlights the changing understanding of childhood and the importance of recognizing children as individuals with their own rights.

The chapter on refugee children in the Federal Republic of Germany examines the legal framework for refugee children in Germany, including relevant national laws and policies. It explores the challenges and contradictions faced by refugee children in Germany in relation to the UN-Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Schlüsselwörter

The keywords and focus themes of the text include refugee children, UN-Convention on the Rights of the Child, asylum-juridical contact, Federal Republic of Germany, children's rights, human rights violations, accompanied and unaccompanied minors, cultural identity, psychological development, legal framework, national laws, policies, challenges, contradictions, and the National Coalition for the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Germany (NC).

• College: Stellenbosch Universitiy
• Course: International Law and Children’s Rights
• Grade: 10,4
• Author: Stephan Müller (Author)
• Publication Year: 2008
• Pages: 15
• Catalog Number: V115764
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640171149
• ISBN (Book): 9783640172955
• Language: English
• Tags: UN-Convention, Rights, Child, Federal, Republic, Germany, International, Children’s, Rights