Resolution on rights of the child – realizing the rights of the child and family reunification

As part of the Annual Day on the Rights of the Child on 9 March 2022, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on family reunification, with a specific focus on children in migration and international protection and children allegedly associated with armed groups or terrorist groups. This resolution recognises the importance of preserving the child’s right to identity in family relations and its implementation will require investment into among other things, fully functioning civil registration systems, full access to records and cross-border cooperation. It calls upon States to “take all measures necessary to ensure the full respect, protection and fulfilment of the rights of the child, without discrimination of any kind, giving particular attention to the right to, as far as possible, know and be cared for by his or her parents and the right to preserve his or her identity, including nationality, name and family relations, as recognized by law, without unlawful interference, and taking positive measures to prevent family separation, including by reuniting separated family members, unless such separation is necessary for the best interests of the child, as well as refraining from actions which may constitute arbitrary or unlawful interference with family life.” Child Identity Protection (CHIP) looks forward to working with other actors to disseminate and implement this 2022 resolution as it will contribute to the full achievement of the child’s right to identity.

Source: recording of the event, https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1u/k1u0uhlua6 and resolution 49/20, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session49/Pages/ResDecStat.aspx