Victims or Criminals? The Vulnerability of Separated Children in the Context of Migration in the United Kingdom and Italy

Despite the periodic and official commitments of the United Kingdom and Italian governments with regard to separated children’s rights and welfare, academics, non-governmental organisations and international organisations have widely emphasised that in both countries the effective protection of children is hindered by harsh immigration laws, policies and practices. In spite of this growing body of literature, policy-makers have paid little attention to questions concerning children and migration, showing a lack of political will to effectively protect their rights and address their vulnerability. This paper focuses on some of the most critical issues that emerge from the literature concerning the situation of separated children in the United Kingdom and Italy, with the aim of highlighting the impact that national laws, policies and practices have on the framing and production of their vulnerability. We pity the sufferings of childhood; we should pity ourselves; our worst sorrows are of our own making