Ambivalence towards the Protection of Refugee Children: A Developmental Relational Approach

Area of Science:

• Child Migration Studies
• Sociology of Childhood
• Human Rights Law

Background:

• Societal ambivalence towards child migration creates tensions between child protection and national interests.
• Unresolved ambivalence leads to failures in upholding refugee children's rights under international law, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Misrepresentations of childhood and refugeeness impede equitable public health and wellbeing services for these children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze contemporary ambivalence towards child migration.
• To propose a developmental relational approach that reframes refugee children as active participants and rights-bearers.
• To address failures in protection and inclusion by challenging misrepresentations.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Jacqueline Bhabha's work on ambivalence towards child migration.
• Development of a developmental relational framework.
• Use of illustrative studies to demonstrate the framework's application.

Main Results:

• Refugee children are often misperceived as passive victims, contrary to their active roles in co-constructing social encounters.
• A developmental relational approach repositions refugee children as active contributors and rights-bearers.
• This framework can inform better practices for protection and inclusion.

Conclusions:

• Recognizing refugee children's 'co-actions' is crucial for addressing misrepresentations.
• A developmental relational understanding supports their rights to thrive and contribute to society.
• Further research and practice are needed to ensure their protection and inclusion as rights-bearers.