Helping child refugees join relatives in the UK

SIR – Right now children are fleeing war, persecution and disaster. Those trying to reach safety with family in Britain too often do so through dangerous routes that are dominated by criminals.

Britain’s rules on refugee family reunion only formally recognise children’s relationship with, and their right to reach, their parents. This is a very limited definition that fails to consider other familial bonds for children, such as with their adult siblings, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

For children who have lost everything and are living in some of the most dangerous places on Earth, preventing them from finding a safe home with loved ones in this country will only increase their vulnerability. Without a legal route to safety, these children are forced to make a highly dangerous, sometimes deadly, journey. The process of leaving the EU offers a real opportunity to strengthen our refugee family reunion law to ensure we can extend a helping hand to the world’s most vulnerable children in search of safety.

Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, can change these rules without painful international negotiation or controversy – indeed, many of her own party are already calling for this change in Parliament today. We hope that she takes this opportunity to show that Britain remains tolerant, compassionate and ready to do its part. Javed Khan

Chief Executive, Barnardo’s Mike Penrose Executive Director, Unicef UK Kevin Watkins

CEO, Save the Children and 10 others; see telegraph.co.uk