In February 1997, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees released these guidelines for unaccompanied children seeking asylum. The purpose of this note is three-fold: to promote awareness of special needs of unaccompanied children and the rights reflected in the Convention on the Rights of the Child; to highlight the importance of a comprehensive approach; and to stimulate discussions in each country on how to develop principles and practices that will ensure that needs of unaccompanied children are being met.