In January 2016, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child examined Ireland’s compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). It recommended that Ireland adopt a legal framework to address the needs of migrant children. This research was undertaken to document what those needs were and how the absence of a framework for legal migration impacted children’s and young people’s lives.
The report outlines children and young people’s experiences of navigating the immigration system, accessing legal advice and legal representation, and the impact of immigration status on access to education and employment. It looks at the steps that must be taken in law, policy and practice to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of children from migrant backgrounds and sets out a list of recommendations for key stakeholders in terms of processes, and law and policy reform.
