Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants
The present report is the fourth submitted to the Human Rights Council by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Jorge Bustamante, since his appointment in July 2005. The report covers the activities carried out by the Special Rapporteur in 2008, in accordance with Council resolution 8/10. In the thematic section of the report, he focuses on the protection of children in the context of migration, recalling the obligation of the State to ensure the protection of all children in all stages of the migration process. The Special Rapporteur presents an overview of the international legal framework applicable, proposes a conceptual framework and refers briefly to three categories of children affected by the migration process: those left behind by migrating family members; migrant children moving across borders; and migrant children in host countries. The Special Rapporteur concludes the report with recommendations for further consideration and action by States and other stakeholders.