Refugee and InternallyDisplaced Children
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Youth Advocate Program International
4000 Albermarle St. NW, Suite 401
Washington DC 20016, USA
www.yapi.org
Refugee & Internally-Displaced
Children
What do you know?
Who is a Refugee?
 What is the different between a Refugee
and an Internally-Displaced Person (IDP)?
 What rights do Refugees have?
 Where are there Refugees in the world?

Refugee & Internally-Displaced
Children
In Focus
Refugee Girl
from Darfur
Mia Farrow's Darfuri Photo Gallery/child_refugee_Darfur.jpg
Refugee & Internally-Displaced
Children
Who is a Refugee?
A refugee is a person who “owing to a wellfounded fear of being persecuted for reasons
of race, religion, nationality, membership of a
particular social group or political opinion is
outside the country of his [her] nationality
and is unable or… is unwilling to avail
himself [herself] of the protection of that
country.”
Source: UNHCR 1951 Convention http://www.unhcr.org/49c8a8d62.html
Refugee & Internally-Displaced
Children
Who is internally-displaced?
Internally-displaced persons have had to flee
their homes and cities of residence in order
to avoid the effects of armed conflict,
situations of generalized violence, violations
of human rights or natural or human-made
disasters. Internally-displaced persons, by
definition, have not crossed an
internationally recognized state border.
Source: UNHCR Asylum-Seekers: http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c137.html
Refugee & Internally-Displaced
Children
Who is an Asylum Seeker?
Asylum-seekers are
different from refugees
in that they have not yet
been granted refugee
status in the country
that they have escaped
to.
Source: UNHCR Asylum-Seekers: http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c137.html
Photo credit: Christoph & Friends
www.das-fotoarchiv.com/e_index.htm
Refugee & Internally-Displaced
Children
Basic Facts

Developing countries are host to nearly 4/5 of
the world’s refugees.

Children and adolescents make up nearly half
of the world’s refugee population, over 17
million children.

Refugee and IDP children are among the most
vulnerable to exploitation, victimization, and
violence.
Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/06/0619_030618_refugeechildren.htmll
Refugee & Internally-Displaced
Children
Refugee Rights

The 1951 Refugee Convention grants
refugees the right to:
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Freedom of religion
Freedom of movement
The right to work
The right to education
Accessibility to travel documents
The host government is held responsible for protecting
refugees and should never force them to return to a
country where they fear persecution.
Source: UNHCR UN Refugee Agency: http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49da0e466.html
Refugee & Internally-Displaced
Children
Challenges Faced by Refugee & IDP Children
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Refugee children are especially vulnerable as they depend on the
protection of their parents from whom they are often separated
during a major conflict.
Refugee children often do not have adequate drinking water, health
care, education, or shelter.
They are at a greater risk of being recruited into armed forces or
forced labor
Ex. Children make up approximately 46% 1.5 million people
displaced by the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Children in refugee camps
may suffer from malnutrition and are at risk for sexual exploitation
and trafficking.
By October, 2010, traffickers had smuggled more than 7,300
children out of Haiti.
Source: Haitian Cholera, a Deterrent to Child Trafficking: http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/node/15155
Refugee & Internally-Displaced
Children
Major Countries of Origin
Source: http://www.unhcr.org/4c11f0be9.htmlmll
Refugee & Internally-Displaced
Children
Countries
hosting
Refugees
Source: http://www.unhcr.org/4c11f0be9.htmlmll
Refugee & Internally-Displaced
Children
What can you do?

Educate yourself about Refugee and Internally-Displaced

Contact local, state, and national politicians for information
Children.
about Refugees and IDPs.
◦ Write letters asking for their opinion on Refugees and IDPs

Talk to your parents about Refugees and IDPs.
◦ Educate the adults in your life!

Advocate for Refugees and IDPs awareness!
◦ Begin a social awareness/human rights club
Refugee & Internally-Displaced
Children
For More Information
Human Rights Watch:
Refugees
http://www.hrw.org/en/category
/topic/refugees

UN High Commissioner On
Refugees (UNHCR)
http://www.unhcr.org/cgibin/texis/vtx/home

•
• Refugees International
http://www.refugeesinternation
al.org/
• U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE)
http://www.ice.gov/
Youth Advocate Program International
www.yapi.org