Addressing the limitations of age determination for unaccompanied minors: A way forward

Abstract

The number of unaccompanied children seeking asylum has increased in recent years. Many unaccompanied children and young people arriving in countries seeking asylum lack official documents showing their identity and age. Chronological age is important as it is linked to where an individual will be initially housed and what services, supports, and legal processes they are entitled to receive. This article provides an overview of age assessment procedures used in industrialized countries. Many different methods are used; however, no currently available method has been demonstrated to have sufficient accuracy and there is a large margin of error. The consequences for young asylum seekers assessed to be 18 years or older is that they will no longer be considered as children and therefore not receive special protection in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The article suggests a psychosocial approach that recognizes young people's transition into adulthood. Supports and serves should be provided on the basis of assessed strengths, needs, and vulnerabilities of the individual rather than on an assessed chronological age.