| Synopsis: |
Human Rights Of Unaccompanied Children And Young People In The UK (HL 9 & HC 196) reports on the treatment of children who seek asylum in the UK after arriving without an accompanying adult. In 2012 around 1,200 unaccompanied migrant children sought asylum in the UK, and around 2,150 were being cared for by local authorities. The Committee heard evidence of the range of issues that unaccompanied migrant children face during their time in the country. Children who have often faced traumatic journeys, many of whom are fleeing violence or have been subject to abuse and exploitation, face intensive interviews on arrival, with interpreting facilities too rarely available. There is also evidence of children being placed in inappropriate accommodation facilities without suitably trained staff to provide support; a point of particular anxiety where children are victims of trafficking. There is some concern about the educational services provided, with de |