Children on the move: Terms, definitions and concepts

Migration and displacement terms are often defined differently by various actors, institutions and laws. Yet without clear and standardized definitions, data that accurately reflect the numbers and situations of migrant and displaced children cannot be collected. This reference document aims to promote a conceptual understanding of the term children on the move – who these children are, the subgroups they constitute, what differentiates them and how they are counted (or not counted) – and unpack key migration terms that relate to children. It also presents the latest global data for critical subgroups of children on the move and highlights vulnerable groups for whom there are limited or no available data.

The International Data Alliance for Children on the Move (IDAC) is a cross-sectoral global coalition that aims to improve data and statistics and support evidence-based policymaking for migrant and displaced children. Jointly led by Eurostat, IOM, OECD, UNHCR and UNICEF, IDAC brings together governments (including experts from national statistical offices and migration- and displacement-related ministries), international and regional organizations, NGOs, think tanks, academics, civil society and youth. IDAC was formally launched on 2 March 2020 at UNICEF House in New York at an event jointly organized by the Governments of the Netherlands and Sweden, and UNICEF, IOM, UNHCR and OECD.

Children on the move are among the world’s most vulnerable populations. Many of them face grave threats to their well-being no matter how far they go – whether they move internally, regionally or across continents – and no matter where they go – whether they migrate to low- or high-income settings. Yet the reliable, quality data needed for policies and programmes to protect and empower these children remain largely missing from the evidence base.

To correct for these gaps and improve data quality and comparability between countries, the International Data Alliance for Children on the Move (IDAC) has produced Children on the Move: Key terms, definitions and concepts. Packed with data, definitions, resources and promising practices, this publication aims to serve as foundational reference documents for the general public, researchers, policymakers and advocacy organizations. Critically, the brief call on key stakeholders to work together and coordinate efforts to improve the production, use and sharing of responsible data for children on the move.

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