Committee: United Nations International Children s Emergency Fund Topic A: Revising migration policies regarding unaccompanied child immigrants Dear delegates, It is a great honor to welcome you the CIDEBMUN 2017 simulation in the committee of the United Nations International Children s Emergency Fund. During this simulation the principal objective is to change your lives by changing the idea of the world in which we live and acquiring some abilities of communication and diplomacy. A country was assigned to you and it is expected enough research about it to understand and be able to dialogue about the two topics assigned to get the point of view of your country. This year two topics will be discussed, Revising Migration Policies Regarding Unaccompanied Child Immigrants and Eradicating Discrimination in the Education System- Filling the Equity Gap. According to the United Nations, migration and discrimination are one of the most discussed subjects. Take into account the possible impact while elaborating your official position. CIDEBMUN will help you develop skills of persuasion, confidence and dialogue among others. Also, it will open your mind to the global problems of today. As Milan Kundera said Life is the memory of the people, the collective consciousness of historical continuity, the way of thinking and living. Director: Edgar Paulino Macias Sagastegui Moderator: Dylan Gabriel Gonzalez Sanchez
Introduction The United Nations International Children s Emergency Fund was created on December 11, 1946 by the United Nations General Assembly to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated in World War II. In that moment of the history, the ideology of UNICEF will be born. UNICEF directs its energies and ideas towards those who are born where history and geography have precluded a natural or available affluence, ( ) (Ustinov,1986). In 1953, UNICEF turns into a permanent organism in the United Nations. In 1959 the Declaration of the Children s Right is approved. In 1965 UNICEF receives the Peace Nobel Prize. In 1990, the Children s Right Convention turns into the human s rights treaty most accepted in history. In 2002, a special session takes place to discuss the commitments in favor of the children. This was the first session dedicated exclusively on children and to include them as official delegates. UNICEF has its headquarters in the city of New York in the United States. Today UNICEF treats topics like children migration, education, health and wellness that are caused by natural disasters, poverty, war conflicts, among others. Most of these problems take place in the Middle East and African countries. UNICEF can propose programs or actions to lead with the topic that is being discussed, it could also provide logistics, researches and investigations if it necessary.
Quorum Azerbaijan Botswana Canada China France Germany Greece Guatemala Italy Jordan Kenya Kuwait Lebanon Mexico Morocco Qatar Russia South Africa South Sudan Spain Turkey United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United Republic of Tanzania United States
Topic Introduction Topic A: Revising Migration Policies Regarding Unaccompanied Child Immigrants The topic emphasizes on the effects of poor migration policies of the countries on Unaccompanied Children Immigration. These effects are usually the children abuse and a poor protection of the Children s Rights. This problem was selected as this problem affects both, third world and first world countries, so it is a perfect example of how the nations can collaborate between them to propose a solution. Unaccompanied Children Migration happens mostly in Latin American countries when trying to cross to the United States, and in African countries when trying to cross to the European Countries, although different cases may occur, like refugees or Children that travel for education issues between others. The experiences of the children are described in the following words: Unaccompanied minors experience a range of traumatic situations in their country of origin including, the death or persecution of their family members, war, forced recruitment and personal persecution. (Hopkins, 2009) Therefore, the effects are not only physical but also behavioral and psychological The difficult living situation of these unaccompanied refugee children and adolescents might ( ) threaten their emotional well-being, resulting in important emotional and behavioral problems (Derluyn, 2008) To completely understand the problem, it is necessary to take into account all the different factors that affect the country and its habitants, but more important is how this factors affect into the children s integrity and the fulfill of their rights. It is important to know the limits and capacities of your country to propose a viable and realistic solution to the problem that is being threated.
Topic History This Topic talks about the different laws in the countries about migration of Unaccompanied Child (less than 18 or 21 years depending on the country). This problem affects several countries around the world. For example, before the spring of 2014, the flow of Unaccompanied Children from Central America to the United States and Mexican border reached record high levels, and in 2015, this numbers resurged, children from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras traveled to the United States. Some actions took place to stop this problem. Large numbers of children from Central America, migrant smugglers were investigated and prosecuted. Mexico planned the Southern Border Program and Guatemala and Honduras secured their common borders. Rising flows in 2015 offer a reminder that humanitarian and migration pressures in the Northern Triangle remain a major concern and that smuggling network plays a significant role (MPI, 2016). The migration crisis has not been yet resolved. Europe is the destination of millions of children from Africa and Asia. The causes of the migration differ depending on the continent that the child belongs to. While most children from Africa travel to Europe looking for a better life quality, the Asian migrants, belonging mostly to Syria are refugees of war nowadays. Since access to social support in all the countries depends on the legal status of residency, these minors are not supported by governmental institutions. (EC, 2017) Today some actions have took place in these European countries to solve the problem of the protection of Immigrant Minors. Some policies of adaptation and solidarity have been working in countries like Germany were Syrian refugees share a house with German families and children are protected in orphanages.
UN Action It has been observed an increase in the unaccompanied and separated children moving across the border, from 66,000 in the period 2010-2011 to at least 300,000 in the period of 2015-2016 and 100,000 of this were apprehended at the Mexico-United States border. 75% of the children who arrived to Italy reported experiences such as being held against their will or being forced to work without a pay. (UNICEF, 2017) UNICEF is calling for recognize this minors as children before as refugees or migrants. The current system is failing to protect the children and their rights within the borders. Nowadays, the UNICEF has taken into account this topic and is calling for a six-point plan to keep refugee and migrant child safe. This includes protecting the children from exploitation and violence, end the detention of refugee and migrant children, keep families together, help uprooted children stay in school and healthy, combat xenophobia and discrimination.
Questions How is your country involved in the Children migration? What does your country propose to manage the problem stated? What do you think UNICEF should do to manage the problem stated? What are your country s reaches and limits to this topic? What are your committees reaches and limits to this topic? What effects do you think this subject has on your country? How economy is affected by this type of migration in your country? What are the social effects of this type of migration in your country
Recommended Sites Rosenblum, M. R. (2015). Unaccompanied child migration to the United States: The tension between protection and prevention. Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute. Yaqub, S. (2009). Independent child migrants in developing countries: Unexplored links in migration and development (No. inwopa09/62). Bibliography (Topic A and B) Equity and Inclusion Guide: https://www.unicef.org/education/files/equity_and_inclusion_guide.pdf A Human Rights-Based Approach to EDUCATION FOR ALL: https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/a_human_rights_based_approach_to_ed ucation_for_all.pdf Ball, I. (2016). Trends in Unaccompanied Child and Family Migration from Central America. 26/08/17, de Migration Policy institute Sitio web: http://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/trends-unaccompanied-child-and-familymigrationcentralamerica?gclid=cjwkcajwuitnbrbfeiwa9n9yehn5l1shrabm3fcxlbbx nhbt4fh3tkdtfxd1jtwyilkq5a06g-dw2boctzmqavd_bwe Daphne Toolkit. (2000). Unaccompanied minor migrants - Development of protection mechanisms. 26/07/17, de European Commission Sitio web : https://ec.europa.eu/justice/grants/results/daphnetoolkit/en/content/unaccompanied-minor-migrants-development-protectionmechanisms