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The Good Practices Guide for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Children on the Move in the Americas highlights effective approaches that support the development, well-being, and protection of the rights of migrant children and adolescents. It features 11 case studies across diverse areas, including social protection, education, health, migration staff training, anti-trafficking measures, protection of unaccompanied minors, family reunification, data collection, and solutions for documentation gaps. Each case details implementation context, challenges, lessons learned, and recommendations for replication.
The Guide aims to inspire concrete actions that translate international and inter-American child protection frameworks into practice. While significant legal milestones have been achieved at these levels, a gap remains between standards and their application in policies that address the specific needs and best interests of children. This complex challenge should not deter action. Creating innovative systems to protect and promote migrant children relies on overcoming adult-centric and security-focused views of migration through political, social, and economic collaboration.
This Guide is a joint effort of the Inter-American Dialogue’s Education Program and the OAS Department of Social Inclusion. It builds on the work of the Working Group for Migrant Children, convened by the Inter-American Dialogue since 2022, and the commitments of the 2023 OAS Declaration for the Protection and Integration of Migrant and Refugee Children and Adolescents in the Americas.
