A/79/213
(d) Review laws, policies and procedures on family reunification to reduce
barriers faced by children and families and improve the accessibility and
efficiency of procedures;
(e) Create and expand regular pathways for admission and stay, including
regularization, based on human rights, including rights to family life and unity,
best interests of the child and non-refoulement, as well as on compassionate,
humanitarian or other grounds for children and families, including those
affected by climate change and environmental degradation;
(f) Develop operational guidance for maintaining family relations in
bilateral labour migration agreements, including regarding regular visitation
between family members, family-friendly employment conditions and
investment in supporting/preparing children, families and alternative caregivers
for periods of separation;
(g) Ensure children can enter and remain in the State’s territory for the
duration of asylum or migration proceedings, or until a sustainable solution in
the child’s best interests is identified;
(h) Train border officials to apply a child-sensitive and human rightsbased approach, making necessary referrals to child protection agencies. Ensure
the early identification of children who are victims of trafficking and sexual
exploitation and other crimes or human rights violations, as well as armed
conflict and violence, and their referral to adequate services and support for
social reintegration and physical and psychological recovery;
(i) Ensure the presence of qualified child protection agencies at borders.
Identification and registration of children at borders must be conducted in a
child-sensitive and child-protective manner, including collection of biometric
data, which must never involve coercion;
(j) Ensure that the presumption of minority underpins age assessment
processes, and that while the procedure is under way the individuals concerned
should be given the benefit of the doubt and treated as children, remaining within
the child protection system; ensure a multidisciplinary approach, taking into
account all aspects, including psychological and environmental aspects of the
person’s situation, and ensure age determinations can be reviewed by or
appealed to an independent body;
(k) Provide safeguards for unaccompanied and separated children,
including immediate appointment of a competent and impartial legal guardian,
access to free and independent legal advice and representation, and a safe and
protective community-based, and ideally family-based, environment;
(l) Prohibit immigration detention of children and families in law, policy
and practice;
(m) Ensure that in search and rescue procedures particular attention is
paid to migrants in vulnerable situations, including children, and that
organizations assisting children are not criminalized or punished for these
activities;
(n) Ensure child- and gender-sensitive support for, and non-criminalization
of, child trafficking victims, and support the initiatives of the Inter-Agency
Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons;
(o) Screen for vulnerability to statelessness in reception processes, ensure
birth registration and issue adequate documentation and civil registry
documents for all children regardless of migration status, adopt regularization
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24-13410