An Empirical Analysis of child-agency of Unaccompanied Minors and separated children in South Africa In 2010, more asylum applications were lodged in South Africa than in any other country in the world. Providing access to asylum procedures for unaccompanied and separated children remains a challenge……UNHCR recognizes that overcoming these hurdles requires strong advocacy and technical support ( UNHCR country operations profile - South Africa:2012) 2nd January 2013 Rita Knight Ritzau 10th Semester Master Thesis Global Refugee Studies Supervisor: Vibeke Andersson ABSTRACT This thesis is a study of the concept of agency’ in development interventions implemented in ‘child South Africa, with a focus on enhancing involvement of the voices of children who arrive in South Africa without parents or guardians. That is - unaccompanied minors and separated children who fled/flee to South Africa to seek refuge. The aim is to shed light on the complexities linked to implementation of child agency as a strategy in the interventions in question, using some migration and development theoretical frameworks. South Africa‘s legal obligations under international, regional, and national jurisdictions are examined and the discussion of structural constraints of concern is explored. Central to this discussion, are legal frameworks and policies as well as concepts of child agency, democracy and migration. Against this backdrop, the reasons for the
An Empirical Analysis of child-agency of Unaccompanied Minors and separated children in South Africa In 2010, more asylum applications were lodged in South Africa than in any other country in the world. Providing access to asylum procedures for unaccompanied and separated children remains a challenge……UNHCR recognizes that overcoming these hurdles requires strong advocacy and technical support ( UNHCR country operations profile - South Africa:2012) 2nd January 2013 Rita Knight Ritzau 10th Semester Master Thesis Global Refugee Studies Supervisor: Vibeke Andersson ABSTRACT This thesis is a study of the concept of ‘child agency’ in development interventions implemented in South Africa, with a focus on enhancing involvement of the voices of children who arrive in South Africa without parents or guardians. That is - unaccompanied minors and separated children who fled/flee to South Africa to seek refuge. The aim is to shed light on the complexities linked to implementation of child agency as a strategy in the interventions in question, using some migration and development theoretical frameworks. South Africa‘s legal obligations under international, regional, and national jurisdictions are examined and the discussion of structural constraints of concern is explored. Central to this discussion, are legal frameworks and policies as well as concepts of child agency, democracy and migration. Against this backdrop, the reasons for the