What impact can detention have on a child's development?

“Children have physical, psychosocial, emotional and cognitive needs that are crucial for their development and can be compromised by experiencing detention, all the more so if they are separated from their parents.

The detention environment itself affects the child's development and psychological health. The lack of freedom and constant surveillance is intimidating and confusing. For most children, detention involves a loss of control and forces them to be separated from the outside world.

It is also scientifically proven that having parents present and providing their children with care and attention is key to early brain development. Children who are separated from their parents suffer profound psychological and neurobiological consequences.”

More than 2000 children have been separated from their parents under the US ‘zero tolerance’ immigration policy. What impact does the forced separation from their parents have on these children?

“These separations are traumatic, there is no clear communication between the child and their parents. Younger children may have difficulty understanding the separation, which creates panic and high levels of anxiety and leads to significant short- and long-term health effects.

We must bear in mind that many of these children have already gone through a number of stressful events in their own country and while travelling to the border. With no parent to comfort them, the trauma can persist and lead to behavioural problems.”

As part of our projects to protect migrant children and children in conflict with the law, we work hard to ensure that the child’s best interests are taken into account and that their rights are respected. We provide psychological and social care, which enhances the children’s well-being. For example, in social institutions for children in conflict with the law in Egypt, or in Guinea where we prepare young people to be reintegrated in society, both while they are in prison and once they have been released. We also assist children who migrate on their own across West Africa by setting up ‘Hope Points’ where we provide information and psychosocial support.

Read the recommendations for the reunification of separated children with their families