Human Security Perspectives on Refugee Children in Germany

This research poses the question in how far the pressure on Germany’s refugee regime affects the human security standards for refugee children. It is assumed that the awareness of the intersectional vulnerability of refugees – particularly women and children – has increased since 2015.

The research project identifies challenges and solutions for the situation of accompanied children in German refugee accommodations along the seven human security dimensions economy, environment, food, health, personal, community and political rights. Linking this to minimum standards, the research focuses on the organizational implementation of protection measures on the municipal level and identifies organizational perceptions and networks from an organizational sociological perspective. This involves a structural analysis of existing standards for protection of children and housing and their development since 2015. For instance, a cooperation between the German Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ), UNICEF, and non-governmental organizations involved in local refugee accommodation compiled non-binding minimum standards within their project "protection measures for women and children in refugee shelters".

While analyzing binding and non-binding standards, an in-depth understanding can be provided on the following questions: Which challenges do organizations face while guaranteeing refugee children’s´ rights? Which value have children’s´ rights in political debates? Which role do local organizational networks and circumstances as well as international organizations such as UNICEF play?