UN Tweeted That Detention Has A Profound and Negative Impact On Child Health and Well Being

Every child has the right to health, education, and protection, and every society has a stake in expanding children’s opportunities in life. Yet, around the world, millions of children are denied a fair chance for no reason other than the country, gender, or circumstances into which they are born. Detention has a profound and negative impact on a child’s health and well-being and can have a long-lasting negative impact on children’s cognitive development. Alternatives to detention for children and families can be safe, dignified, and cost-effective.

Placement in detention is known to exacerbate psychological distress and children held in detention are at risk of suffering depression and anxiety as well as violence and abuse.

Several countries in Europe have demonstrated that alternatives to detention for children and families can be safe, dignified, and cost-effective, urging all European States to adopt these approaches to protect the rights and well-being of refugee and migrant children.
In the joint review conducted by IOM, UNHCR, and UNICEF in 38 countries across the European region, the agencies found many worrying examples of child detention. It also found that alternatives to detention such as supported independent living, foster and family-based care, and other child-friendly and child-centered models are already in place in various European countries and offer viable and cost-efficient solutions for host States.

Children on the move are first and foremost children, regardless of where they are from and why they left their homes. Detention of children is never in their best interests, is a violation of their rights, and must be avoided at all costs. The recommendations set forth by the three agencies include expanding alternatives to detention for children and families, investing in reception conditions and national child protection systems, and enhancing national data collection and monitoring capacities within States as well as the European Union.

Family unity and the best interests of the child go hand in hand in the context of persons on the move. We encourage governments to work to replace immigration detention for children and families with community-based programs, case management, and other rights-based alternatives, which have proven highly effective. Thus began an abiding concern with education, starting with support for teacher training and classroom equipment in newly independent countries.

Over To You:
Following more than a decade of focus on child health issues, UNICEF expanded its interests to address the needs of the whole child.