Unaccompanied Minors in the Migration Process

The phenomenon of unaccompanied minors claiming asylum in the EU has become a more visible problem. In 2008, the rating of top five nationalities for unaccompanied minors claiming asylum was as follows: Afghans, Iraqis, Somalis, Indians and Nigerians. In 2009 Afghan unaccompanied minors remained in the top five, followed by Somali, Iraqi, Nigerian and Eritrean nationals. The soaring flow of unaccompanied minors from Afghanistan claiming asylum is a growing source of concern. Among exploiters taking advantage of the children, are sometimes their own relatives who gain benefit in the form of social and/or family allowances. Unaccompanied minors are sometimes sent as forerunners into the EU to trigger the family reunification process. This may be done under false pretences and may turn into domestic servitude or other type of forced labour.