International protection of child victims of illegal immigration

The issue of children, who are victims of illegal immigration has recently received great attention at the international level. Despite the fact of not being new, but the steady increase in its rates in the current era and the increasing rates of infiltration of individuals to enter any country through illegal means made it turn from a phenomenon into a serious problem threatening the international community. The study focused on illegal immigration and illustrated the difference between the terms of refugee and immigrant, and also focused on unaccompanied or separated children, as this category is the most likely to have their rights violated, either in an attempt to kidnap them or lure them to commit terrorist acts etc,. The study dealt with the main motives and causes of illegal immigration, the situation of immigrants in destination countries, their human rights, and their protection from exploitation. It focused on international concern, the role of international institutions, the functions and effectiveness of all international, regional and national mechanisms in protecting unaccompanied migrant children in destination countries. The study touched on international and regional mechanisms for the protection of migrant unaccompanied children. It also studied the phenomenon in the African continent in general and Egypt in particular, and the extent of its commitment in this regard by virtue of its ratification of many international conventions and treaties as: the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Many recommendations were addressed in this regard to abolish all forms of discrimination for migrant children who are unaccompanied or separated from their families.