Protecting Children on the Move in Asia: Child Rights and the Implementation of the Global Compact for Migration

Across Asia, millions of children on the move are among the region’s most vulnerable people. Migrant children and their families often exist on the margins of society, struggling to access healthcare and education, and at constant risk of violence and exploitation. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the situation, not least since the ensuing financial crisis has hit migrant workers and their families particularly hard.

In 2018, United Nations Member States agreed to the landmark Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), the first-ever UN-negotiated document that develops a common approach to all aspects of international migration. Rooted in human rights standards, the document aims to foster international cooperation and advance domestic policies to improve the lives and protection of the 272 million migrants (including 33 million children) globally.

On 10-12 March, governments and other stakeholders are gathering for the first-ever regional review in Asia to take stock of the implementation of the GCM. This policy briefing provides an overview of issues continuing to affect children affected by migration and their families in the region, highlights promising practices in some countries, and provides concrete recommendations for implementing the GCM in a child-sensitive manner.