Save the Children and the Separated Children in Europe Programme Position paper on: Return and Separated Children

Separated children who are illegally resident or have temporary status are one of the most vulnerable groups of people in the EU. Separated children may be seeking asylum because of fear of persecution or the lack of protection due to human rights violations or armed conflict in their own country. They may be the victims of trafficking for sexual, labour or other exploitation, or they may have travelled to Europe to escape conditions of serious deprivation.