Pre-flight experiences and migration stories: the accounts of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children

Authors: Hopkins, Peter¹; Hill, Malcolm²

Source: Children's Geographies, Volume 6, Number 3, August 2008 , pp. 257-268(12)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $49.55 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Much work about transnational migration and mobility overlooks the active role of children in such processes and experiences. This paper counters the omission from the literature by exploring the pre-flight experiences and migration stories of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Scotland. In doing so, we demonstrate that unaccompanied minors experience a range of traumatic situations in their countries of origin including, the death or persecution of family members, war, forced recruitment and personal persecution. In their experiences of transnational migration processes, the majority are brought by an agent, with accounts of smuggling and trafficking being minimal.

Keywords: unaccompanied; children; asylum; migration; pre-flight experiences

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14733280802183981

Affiliations: 1: School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK 2: Glasgow Centre for the Child and Society, Glasgow School of Social Work, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK

Publication date: 2008-08-01