Legal representation and rights Unaccompanied minors have a right to physical and legal protection as their individual circumstances require. This includes legal representation and designation of guardians, where needed, and securing land and other inheritance rights when all immediate family members have died. Family unity All children have a right to a family, and families have a right and responsibility to care for their children. All reasonable measures should be taken to help families stay together and to reunite families which become separated. Action should never be taken if it might encourage family separations or make family tracing and reunification more difficult.
Unaccompanied minors have a right to be reunited with parents, guardians or extended family members.
Those intervening on behalf of unaccompanied minors have an obligation to assist them to find, communicate with and rejoin family members through tracing and other services. Family tracing is pursued as a priority for all children and adolescents separated from their families. Community integration Separated minors should be integrated with the rest of their communities, their needs met and services provided to a similar level and, to the extent possible, in the same manner available to other young persons. Stability and continuity Continuity should be preserved as much as possible in separated minor's relationships with adults and other youngsters, and in their cultural and religious traditions. Sibling groups should be kept together.