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IFRC: Migrant Children Traveling Alone Are 'Most Vulnerable People In the
World'

by VOA News

   A report by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
   Societies (IFRC) says thousands of unaccompanied children and children
   who have been separated from their families run the daily risk of
   sexual and gender-based violence as they travel along the world's
   migratory trails.

   "A child who is migrating alone, without the love and protection of a
   parent, family member or guardian, is arguably one of the most
   vulnerable people in the world," said Francesco Rocca, IFRC president.

   The report entitled "Alone and Unsafe," is being released ahead of next
   week's meeting in Marrakech where governments are expected to adopt the
   Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

   The compact, according to Rocca, "is a chance for governments to make
   life safer for tens of thousands - perhaps hundreds of thousands - of
   incredibly vulnerable children." He said the agreement is "an
   opportunity that governments simply cannot afford to miss."

   The Alone and Unsafe report said when children travel alone, they are
   at high risk for being assaulted, sexually abused, raped, trafficked
   into sexual exploitation, or forced into "survival sex." The children's
   exposure to these threats is unrelenting and follows them from their
   countries of origin, through countries of transit and into countries of
   destination.

   The U.N. estimated in 2017 that there were at least 300,000 children
   traveling alone, but exact figures are not available. The IFRC said it
   believes the figure is much higher.

   "The number of children migrating alone or without their families has
   grown substantially and alarmingly in the past decade," Rocca said.
   "Tragically, unacceptably, these children are easy prey for abusers,
   exploiters and traffickers."