title: Knowledge of the Unknown Child: A Systematic Review of the Elements of the Best Interests of the Child Assessment for Recently Arrived Refugee Children.
abstract: Decision-making regarding an asylum request of a minor requires decision-makers to determine the best interests of the child when the minor is relatively unknown. This article presents a systematic review of the existing knowledge of the situation of recently arrived refugee children in the host country. This research is based on the General Comment No. 14 of UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. It shows the importance of knowing the type and number of stressful life events a refugee child has experienced before arrival, as well as the duration and severity of these events. The most common mental health problems children face upon arrival in the host country are PTSD, depression and various anxiety disorders. The results identify the relevant elements of the best interests of the child assessment, including implications for procedural safeguards, which should promote a child rights-based decision in the asylum procedure.
authors.affiliation: Study Centre for Children, Migration and Law, Department of Special Needs Education and Youth Care, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Grote Rozenstraat 38, 9712 TJ, Groningen, The Netherlands. e.c.c.van.os@rug.nl.|Department of Special Needs Education and Youth Care, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. e.c.c.van.os@rug.nl.
authors.forename: E C C
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3658-8868
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: van Os
authors.affiliation: Study Centre for Children, Migration and Law, Department of Special Needs Education and Youth Care, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Grote Rozenstraat 38, 9712 TJ, Groningen, The Netherlands.|Department of Special Needs Education and Youth Care, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kalverboer
authors.affiliation: Study Centre for Children, Migration and Law, Department of Special Needs Education and Youth Care, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Grote Rozenstraat 38, 9712 TJ, Groningen, The Netherlands.|Department of Special Needs Education and Youth Care, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Zijlstra
authors.affiliation: Study Centre for Children, Migration and Law, Department of Special Needs Education and Youth Care, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Grote Rozenstraat 38, 9712 TJ, Groningen, The Netherlands.|Department of Special Needs Education and Youth Care, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Post
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Needs Education and Youth Care, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Knorth
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002961:Civil Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D012036:Refugees / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D014480:United Nations / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
keywords: Asylum; Best interests of the child assessment; Decision-making; Mental health; Refugee children