Children speak out – speech during the Day of General Discussion by 16-year old Sasima Srikhwang

Speech by 16-year old Sasima Srikhwang held during the 2012 Day of General Discussion on the challenges faced by children in international migration situations. Sasima, who was selected by the Forum on Child Migration of Thailand to participate in the Day of General Discussion, lives on the border between Thailand and Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Sasima argued that one of the main causes of migration comes from children following their families because they migrate in the hope of getting work and that there is a need to provide adequate information on safe migration procedures. Lack of awareness about the complexities of migration make potential migrants easy prey to human trafficking or labour exploitation, and children are particularly vulnerable to these risks. Sasima also stressed that children of migrants born outside their country of origin should be able to acquire the nationality of the country where they were born and be given adequate access to protection and basic services.