A/HRC/15/29 where the child is unreasonably confined to the premises of the employer”, which is intended to refer to domestic workers, or workers who live and work in factories and sweatshops.62 All of the provisions of the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families apply equally to child migrant workers, even though the Convention does not explicitly refer to the situation of children who migrate on their own for work. 74. The Committee on the Rights of the Child has called on States to “regulate the working environment and conditions for adolescents who are working”.63 Further elaborating on this issue in general comment No. 12, the Committee notes that, in the case of working children who are younger than the age permitted by ILO Conventions: “they should be included in the search for a solution, which respects the economic and sociocultural constraints as well as the cultural context under which these children work”.64 K. Protection of children left behind in countries of origin 75. The Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants has stated that the term “children left behind” refers to “children raised in their home countries or in their countries of habitual residence who have been left behind by adult migrants responsible for them”.65 76. The impact of being left behind on children is hard to generalize, as some children will benefit from the migration of their parents, including those who receive remittances that enable them to go to school, improve their housing situation or access better health services. Others, however, could suffer destitution and official neglect, physical and sexual abuse from relatives and foster carers, and psychological trauma from the experience of being “abandoned” by one or both parents. Children left behind could suffer social stigmatization, debt and pressure from moneylenders and smugglers and be forced to take on social and family roles far beyond their age and maturity. 77. The Special Rapporteur has noted that a key factor in determining the impact of migration on children left behind will be the extent to which the responsible State has implemented specific child protection policies for such children.66 Targeted policies should address the socio-economic situation of such children, protect them from exploitation and violence (including domestic violence), and enable their voice to be heard. Where appropriate, the State should appoint a legal guardian for such children. 78. The situation of children left behind in the context of migration is also of relevance to family reunification policies in countries of destination. Where possible and in their best interests, States should enable children to join their parents who have migrated.67 Such reunification opportunities should not be contingent on the migration status of the parents. 62 63 64 65 66 67 18 ILO, Recommendation No. 190 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999. In addition, article 32 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child protects children from hazardous work and work that would interfere with their education, morals and health. Article 10, paragraph 3, of the ICESCR provides similar protection. Committee on the Rights of the Child, general comment No. 4 on adolescent health and development. Committee on the Rights of the Child, general comment No. 12 on the right of the child to be heard. A/HRC/11/7, para. 45. Ibid., para. 48. Article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention on the Rights of the Child accordingly asserts that “States Parties shall ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will”, while Article 10, paragraph 1, calls on States to examine requests for family reunification in a “positive, humane and expeditious manner”. The Committee of the Rights of the Child has, in its concluding