United Nations: report by the High Commissioner for Human Rights identifies migrant and stateless minors as among those most vulnerable to trafficking

During the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) of the United Nations presented its report “Child trafficking in the context of statelessness, migration and forced displacement”, underlining how children who are migrants, refugees, internally displaced, or stateless face significantly higher risks of trafficking due to discrimination, restrictive migration policies and lack of legal protection. 

The Report underlines how one in three trafficked persons is a child, with child trafficking  and child exploitation being driven by structural vulnerabilities, such as statelessness, forced displacement, conflict, poverty and unsafe migration routes. 

Amongst children, unaccompanied and separated children represent the most vulnerable. Furthermore, issues concerning lack of birth registration, legal identity and nationality, heavily limit access to education, healthcare, justice and social protection. 

Concerning the management of migration flows, the report highlights how immigration detention, border externalization and limited legal migration pathways can force children into irregular migration, making them more vulnerable to traffickers. Indeed, in order to tackle trafficking, efforts must prioritize children’s rights over migration control.

The Report specifically asks States to: end statelessness by reforming nationality laws and birth registration, expand safe and regular migration pathways, prohibit immigration detention for children, guarantee age-centered age assessments and long-term support for trafficking victims, and ensure access to justice and international protection.