All children on the move, regardless of their migration status, are at a high risk of exploitation, abuse and violence, and those who are traveling alone are especially vulnerable. According to the Harrowing Journeys report, a joint study by the International Organization for Migration and UNICEF, published in September 2017, in a survey of 11,000 participating children and adolescents between the ages of 14 and 24, as many as 8 out of 10 respondents reported that they were subject to exploitation. Children and adolescents from Sub-Saharan Africa represent an especially vulnerable group as they reported the experience of trafficking and exploitation four times more often. 

Considering the prevalence of exploitative, violent and abusive practises targeting migrant, refugee and asylum seeking children, a wide range of public service providers, as well as staff of civil society organizations, volunteers and other field workers may come across child in need of specialized assistance in the course of their work. The mission of the International Organization for Migration in Slovenia has published awareness-raising leaflets and posters for refugee, asylum-seeking and migrant children above 12 years of age. Available in Arabic, English, Farsi, Kurdish, Pashto, Slovenian and Urdu, the leaflets address the risks and dangers of trafficking in human beings and provide information on the possibilities of protection to children. In addition, posters depicting children's basic rights with information on the possibility of family reunification, which IOM can offer in cooperation with the network of its offices around the world, are being distributed to social work centres, non-governmental organizations, accommodation facilities and to other relevant stakeholders. Multilingual materials are also available for download in the electronic format. 

Please write to iomljubljana@iom.int if you wish to request printed versions of the materials in any of the available languages: Slovene, English, Arabic, Farsi, Pashtu, Urdu or Kurdish.

The materials were developed in the framework of the project "Protecting Children in the Context of the Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Europe", financially supported by the European Union.