CMW/C/GC/4-CRC/C/GC/23
provide formal and non-formal learning opportunities, teacher training and life skills
classes.
63.
States should develop concrete measures to foster intercultural dialogue between
migrant and host communities and to address and prevent xenophobia or any type of
discrimination or related intolerance against migrant children. In addition, integrating
human rights education, including on non-discrimination, as well as migration and
migrants’ rights and children’s rights, within education curricula would contribute to
preventing in xenophobic or any form of discriminatory attitudes that could affect migrants’
integration in the long term.
III. International cooperation
64.
The Committees reaffirm the need to address international migration through
international, regional or bilateral cooperation and dialogue and through a comprehensive
and balanced approach, recognizing the roles and responsibilities of countries of origin,
transit, destination and return in promoting and protecting the human rights of children in
the context of international migration, so as to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration,
with full respect for human rights and avoiding approaches that might aggravate their
vulnerability. In particular, cross-border case management procedures should be established
in an expeditious manner in conformity with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and
Members of Their Families, the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the
1967 Protocol thereto and the 1996 Hague Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law,
Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and
Measures for the Protection of Children. In addition, cooperation could include initiatives
aimed at strengthening financial and technical assistance as well as resettlement
programmes to countries which host a large number of displaced persons, including
children, from other countries and are in need of assistance. All practices should be fully in
line with international human rights and refugee law obligations.
65.
In order to ensure that this comprehensive and balanced approach is consistent with
the best interests of children, child protection/welfare agencies should have a key role in the
development of any international, regional or bilateral agreements that affect the rights and
treatment of children in the context of international migration. Bilateral, regional and
international initiatives should be encouraged in order to facilitate family reunification,
implement best interest assessment and determination, and guarantee children’s right to be
heard and due process safeguards. Such initiatives should ensure access to justice in crossborder situations where children whose rights are affected in the country of transit or
destination need it after they have returned to the country of origin or gone to a third
country. In addition, States should ensure the participation of children and civil society
organizations, including regional intergovernmental institutions, in these processes. States
should also avail themselves of technical cooperation from the international community and
United Nations agencies and entities, including the United Nations Children’s Fund and the
International Organization for Migration, for the implementation of migration policies in
respect of children in line with the present joint general comment.
IV. Dissemination and use of the joint general comment and
reporting
66.
States parties should disseminate widely the present joint general comment to all
stakeholders, in particular parliaments, governmental authorities, including child protection
and migration authorities and personnel, and the judiciary, at all national, regional and local
levels. It should be made known to all children and all relevant professionals and
stakeholders, including those working for and with children (i.e., judges, lawyers, police
and other law enforcement entities, teachers, guardians, social workers, staff of public or
private welfare institutions and shelters, and health-care providers), the media and civil
society at large.
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