Globalization as a Contemporary Phenomenon - Essay Example

The conditions of poverty, instability, and war have reregulated into the massive displacement of people. Adults, as well as children, are “displaced across national borders by armed conflict and political oppression” (Boyden & Hart, 2007: 237). This circumstance is aggravated by the reality that the violence against the displaced people is perpetuated by the state (Boyden & Hart, 2007). However, the suffering of the displaced people does not end there. As they flee from their country because it can no longer provide security and protection on their lives, property, and liberty, they seek asylum in other countries wherein they are perceived as ‘outsiders’ who may be “encroaching on national assets however justified their claim” (Boyden & Hart, 2007: 237). This forced migration with which people are subjected includes children.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), currently offers support to around 8 million refugee children (Boyden & Hart, 2007: 238). There is a tremendous increase in the number of asylum-seeking children since it is claimed that the contemporary shape of wars has changed in such a way that wars are now fought within the state, at the centre of the cities, at the very heart of the towns. Being such, there is an increase in civilian casualties which in turn gives rise to the “emerging demographic profile in much of the global South, where up to 50 percent of national populations are currently under 18 years of age, children inevitably constitute a large proportion of the peoples displaced by conflict” (Boyden & Hart, 2007: 238). In this regard, among asylum seekers, there is now the occurrence of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

“Unaccompanied children leave their homes for diverse reasons: poverty and lack of employment; lack of education opportunities or denial of education especially for girls; armed conflict or natural disaster; escape from inequality and discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, race, religion or political opinions; personal factors such as abuse in the family and various forms of exploitation. Children might also fall victim to trafficking even by their parents or caregivers, or they might be sent using professional smugglers to relatives in other countries to escape the chaos and a dangerous environment” (Gambaro et al, 2008).