Without my Family: The impact of family separation on child refugees in the UK

Every child should be able to live safely with their family. But when disaster strikes, children may need to seek safety from conflict or persecution, leaving their families behind. A few of these children find safety in the UK – where unfair immigration rules make their separation from family permanent.

The UK allows adult refugees to sponsor their immediate family to join them, but denies this right to children. In this report, young people affected by this policy reveal its devastating impact on their lives. They must try to build a future, but are dogged by constant anxiety about the fate of their parents and siblings, and keenly feel the absence of family love and support. The young people’s testimony is backed up by accounts from the professionals who work with them.

The UK keeps some of the most vulnerable children apart from their families at a time when they need them most. This policy is not justified by any evidence and is directly at odds with international human rights law. It is time to change the rules, and to put children’s best interests first.