Statement by Daniel Toole, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific, on the Situation of Children Stranded in Boats in South East Asia
NEW YORK (May 15, 2015) – “UNICEF is very worried about the situation of children and their families stranded on boats in the seas of South East Asia. These children need, and they have a right to, urgent help and protection. UNICEF shares the Secretary-General’s sense of alarm at reports that some countries are refusing entry to boats carrying refugee and migrant children.
Children who have fled their homes, either alone or with their families, are exposed to a greater risk of abuse, exploitation and ill-health.
Under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which all South East Asian countries have ratified, any action that may have an impact on children must be guided by the best interests of those children, no matter who they are and where they come from. The Convention on the Rights of the Child requires governments to ensure all children are cared for in a safe place, with access to education, health, social and legal services, irrespective of their refugee or migrant status.
Article 22 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child specifically requires Governments to take measures to ensure that a child who is seeking refugee status receives appropriate protection and humanitarian assistance.
The children currently stranded in boats need urgent, immediate humanitarian assistance to ensure their safety. They also need long-term help to determine their status and to find a safe environment where their rights are fully respected.
Children should not be criminalized or subject to punitive measures solely because of their migration status, nor should they be detained for purposes of migration control. All actions in regard to child migrants must be guided by the best interests of every one of these children, every step of the way.”
About UNICEFThe United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.
For further information and interview requests, please contact:Susannah Masur, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212-880-9146, smasur@unicefusa.org