Re-Defining Unaccompanied and Separated Children in Russia (N. Kravchuk, журнал "Право. Журнал Высшей школы экономики", N 2, апрель-июнь 2016 г.)

Kravchuk N. Re-Defining Unaccompanied and Separated Children in Russia

N. Kravchuk - Research Fellow, Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences, Russian Academy of Sciences; associate professor, International Law Department, Russian State University of Justice, Candidate of Juridical Sciences

The notion "unaccompanied and separated children" was introduced by the UN Convention on the rights of the child. It is widely used by both international human rights community and governmental bodies of various countries in regulation of treatment of the specific vulnerable group of children. The notion, which initially aimed to address specific needs of children-refugees, gradually evaluated and presently refers to children outside of country of their origin who are not being cared for by a responsible adult or who are with family members that are not their primary caregivers, including illegal migrants. Certain scope of rights and guarantees is attributed to the notion to address their needs that should be determined using the best interests of the child principle. Russia does not use the notion developed on the international level in the national law in its human rights meaning. It was literary translated and adjusted to national perceptions (redefined). The content of the term used to define the group in Russia - "children deprived of a parental care" (deti, ostavshiyesya bez roditelskogo popecheniya) is similar but not equal. It allows to strip children of the guarantees attributed to the notion "unaccompanied and separated children" by the international treaty and to consider unaccompanied and separated children within the contexts of "violation by parents of their parental rights" and "migration" The change of the focus brings along a perversion of the understanding of the best interests of these children and measures the state is obliged to undertake to protect them. Moreover, it puts all the blame regarding the situation of children on their parents, leaving the state a secondary role.

Keywords: unaccompanied and separated children; UN Convention on the rights of the child; notion; children; deprived of a parental care; child rights; best interests of the child; Russia; migrants.

"Право. Журнал Высшей школы экономики"

Ежеквартальный научно-аналитический журнал

Издается с 2008 г.

Журнал учреждается в качестве печатного органа Высшей школы экономики с целью расширения участия ВШЭ в развитии правовой науки, в совершенствовании юридического образования.

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- стимулирование научных дискуссий;

- опубликование материалов по наиболее актуальным вопросам права;

- содействие реформе юридического образования, развитию образовательного процесса, в том числе разработке новых образовательных курсов;

- укрепление взаимодействия между учебными и научными подразделениями ГУ-ВШЭ;

- участие в расширении сотрудничества российских и зарубежных ученых-юристов и преподавателей;

- вовлечение молодых ученых и преподавателей в научную жизнь и профессиональное сообщество;

- организация круглых столов, конференций, чтений и иных мероприятий.