Social Science Research Network | 2021
The Right to Family Reunification of Children Seeking International Protection under the Convention on the Rights of the Child: Misplaced Reliance on Travaux?
Abstract
The article focuses on a unique provision, Article 9 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), that stipulates a right to family reunification for all children, including the ones seeking international protection. This article relies on the treaty interpretation rules under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT) and argues that the desirable interpretation of Article 9 prescribes a positive obligation upon States to provide entry in the territory of a State for the purposes of family unity. It also challenges the prevailing academic view that only Article 10 of the CRC applies in the migration context, while Article 9 of the CRC is applicable exclusively within the State borders. The article contends that the text of these provisions, as well as the context of the CRC do not support the opinion of a considerable number of scholars, who argue that children seeking international protection fall outside the scope of Article 9 of the CRC. It suggests that the interpretation of Article 9 of the CRC, using the proper interpretative methodology under the VCLT, demands the articulation of a distinctive child-centred approach to family reunification and presumption against family separation of children seeking international protection.