Jorge Bustamante, the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, recently submitted a report on the protection of children in the context of migration to the Human Rights Council. In the report, Bustamante points out that female children are extremely vulnerable to gender-based violence during migration. Migration is often difficult and dangerous for female children due to “additional restrictions on travel” girls may face due to “male guardianships.” Female children are also vulnerable to human trafficking for sexual exploitation or forced labor during migration.
The report calls on the international community to consider the plight of female children in the process of migration when planning policy and legislation on migration.
Compiled from: Jorge Bustamante, “Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants,” United Nations Human Rights Council (A/HRC/11/7) (14 May 2009). (PDF, 26 pages).