Refugee Children: Guidelines on Protection and Care

This book was written with several groups in mind. It is primarily for UNHCR's staff, but it is also for the staff of its operational partners, whether they be voluntary organizations, UN agencies or Governments. Each chapter takes a subject, such as Legal Status or Psychosocial Well-being, and discusses it from the point of view of children's needs and rights. Generalists working in the field will be able to gain an overview of a subject as well as guidance for addressing specific problems. At the end of each main chapter, there is a check-list. It contains the essence of the guidelines in the chapter and can be used as a quick means of evaluating whether a field office has taken appropriate measures to ensure that the protection needs of children are met and that appropriate care is provided. There is a "More Reading" section at the end of each chapter for those who want additional information.

The UNHCR Guidelines on Refugee Children, first published in 1988, have been updated in the light of the new policy and is presented in this document. At its core lies the realization of the need which children have for special care and assistance.