Joint statement from the Counseling and Support Centre for Young Refugees and Migrants and Terre des Hommes on the visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development to Germany
November 15, 2025 - As part of his official visit to Germany, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development, Surja Deva, met today with young refugees to discuss their development opportunities.
A country's level of development is reflected in the life prospects of young people who face difficult circumstances. Therefore, in his 2024 report to the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur called on all governments to invest, in particular, in the development of children and young people. This includes adequate housing, quality education, access to healthcare, and the right to parental care. Furthermore, their participation and involvement in their own development and in society must be enabled.
In a discussion organized by the Counseling and Support Center for Young Refugees and Migrants (BBZ) and Terre des Hommes , refugee children and teenagers shared their perspectives and challenges. The BBZ and Terre des Hommes stated: “For us, it’s clear: Every child counts – no matter where they come from. Refugee children, in particular, need protection and support to settle in Germany. The suspension of family reunification is hitting many refugee children especially hard. They cannot find peace without their parents and often wait for years to finally be able to live safely with their families again. This contradicts the children’s right to a family, which is effectively being taken away from them by political decisions.”
The UN Special Rapporteur is visiting Germany to critically examine the extent to which German policies promote or hinder the development opportunities of people both domestically and globally. The choice of destination is not arbitrary: Germany, too, is falling short of what is socially possible and legally mandated.