The Dangers Unaccompanied Migrant Children Face

In 2020, there were over 281 million international migrants around the world, and 36 million of them were children. Migrants are often individuals who leave (or are forced out of) their home countries due to issues like war, famine, poverty, and violence. 

While displacement can often lead to dangerous situations for all migrants, it is especially dangerous for migrant children separated from their families or caretakers. Here are some of the dangers that unaccompanied migrant children face:

• Forced Labor - Unaccompanied migrant children are at a much higher risk of being forced into things against their will, such as performing labor. Human traffickers often target children because they are easier to manipulate, control, and abuse. The children are then forced into modern-day slavery in order to survive.
• Physical Abuse and Violence - Another danger that unaccompanied migrant children often face is violence. This can come from physical abuse from human traffickers or from being forced into violent situations by gangs or armies. Unaccompanied migrant children are often preyed upon because they have nowhere else to go and no one to protect them.
• Child Marriage - Unaccompanied migrant children are also vulnerable to being forced into child marriages. When children are on their own, they have no one else looking out for them and can be manipulated or forced into marriages with older individuals. 
• Sexual Exploitation - Similarly, unaccompanied migrant children are also preyed upon by human traffickers for sexual exploitation. The children can be forced into prostitution and performing sexual acts in order to survive. If they don’t, they often face physical abuse, violence, and even rape.
• Death - Unaccompanied migrant children face many dangerous situations and sometimes they result in death. Migrants leave their home countries in order to have a chance at survival, but their search for safety is also perilous. Unaccompanied migrant children face an even more difficult journey with no one to guide them or protect them. This can lead to them being killed by human traffickers or other predatory individuals, as well as dying from starvation, thirst, or other circumstances.

The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) advocates for the rights of all uprooted people, including migrant children. Together with our partner agencies, we are working on reunification efforts to connect migrant children with their families, as well as attempting to change governmental policies around the world to protect the rights of migrant children. Our Child Safeguarding Policy emphasizes our commitment to the children we serve, promoting their best interests and rights in accordance with international standards. We are also trying to eliminate underlying issues like poverty by protecting labor rights and improving working conditions for vulnerable communities. Find out how you can make a difference and help us protect migrant children today!

About the International Catholic Migration Commission

The International Catholic Migration Commission is a nonprofit organization that protects, serves, and advocates for displaced people throughout the world. We help refugees, asylum-seekers, victims of human trafficking, and migrants of all faiths, races, and ethnicities forge lives in safety and dignity.

With support from people like you, ICMC delivers humanitarian aid and social development, protects vulnerable migrants, contributes to refugee resettlement efforts, advocates before governments, and partners with civic leaders. We seek a sustainable solution to dangerous migration and refugee crises.

Find out more by visiting our website.