E/CN.4/2001/83 page 15 extent that reference is being made to the perceived reasons for migration, is a point that will have to be taken into account as a matter of priority in subsequent discussions for the purpose of formulating a definition of the concept of migrant that better reflects the reality of this complex problem. 3. Situation of migrant women and unaccompanied minors 61. Serious consideration must be given to the situation of migrant women and, in particular, women heads of household who leave their environment behind in order to help raise and educate their children. Many of these women have to leave their own children behind in order to take care of the children of other persons and thus be able to give their own an adequate education and some prospect of a decent life. Their feelings of being uprooted go together with feelings of loneliness. The high hopes that organized crime agents can create for desperate mothers and the vulnerability of these migrant women make them easy prey for the agents and expose them to high-risk situations in the context of irregular migration. In many cases, this combination involves detention, bondage, falling into the hands of smugglers and subjection to degrading and slave labour. 62. With regard to the question of unaccompanied minors, it must be pointed out that many families in countries of origin are forced to send their children abroad to study or work owing to the lack of opportunities in those countries and the many opportunities offered to heads of household by agencies. In the majority of cases, these minors are abandoned by agents in transit countries or the host country after the families have paid large amount of money. These minors run the risk of being subjected to serious abuses and even sexual, degrading and slave labour. In other cases, they are detained, expelled or deported even though they are victims. These situations of detention which last for months and even years in many cases often involve violations of their fundamental rights. 4. Undocumented minors without access to health care and education 63. The cycle of clandestinity and irregularity in which large numbers of migrants become trapped, in some cases as a result of the lack of information and, in others, because of bureaucratic red tape, is starting to be handed down to the children. In many cases, access to health care is denied to the children of migrants and this is contrary to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Disregarding biased interpretations of the Convention to avoid obligations, it cannot be forgotten that children in this situation are very likely to fall into the hands of traffickers and to be forced into sexual slavery. 64. As part of this analysis, the Special Rapporteur draws particular attention to the cases of children who are born in the host State and whose parents are in an irregular situation. If the host State forces the parents to leave the country, the child is being denied the right to develop as a national of the State where he was born, even though the State recognizes this right. The Special Rapporteur wishes to draw the attention of Governments to the particular situation of migrant women domestic workers. Reports are increasingly being made of sexual abuse by the employers of these persons as a result of the lack of protection in host countries and inequality between employer and worker. There is an alarming number of cases of births in which it is claimed that the father is the employer, although the births are not recognized. These children,