| 22 September 2008
UK lifts reservation to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
LONDON - The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) today congratulated the UK Government’s decision to lift its reservation to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In lifting its reservation, the UK government demonstrates its commitment to accord all children on British soil access to the convention rights without any discrimination as to their immigration status. The special protection and care needs of children in the UK immigration system are an important concern to UNHCR.
“The UN refugee agency applauds the government’s decision to ensure that children are protected from any form of discrimination on the basis of their immigration status,” said Jacqueline Parlevliet, UNHCR’s Deputy Representative in London.
“It is important to recognise that children in the asylum system are children first and foremost, and as such they need special attention,” UNHCR’s Parlevliet declared.
UNHCR urges the government to provide guidance on the protection, care and proper treatment of asylum-seeking children and to develop an appropriate legal framework based on the Convention for identifying the protection needs of especially vulnerable minors who have experienced persecution or armed conflict.
UNHCR’s Quality Initiative audit project is currently carrying out an audit of asylum cases involving children, and continues to work with the Home Office to improve the quality of asylum decision-making in the UK.
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