especially for children who have special rights and needs in this regard.14 They lack access to adequate food, sanitation, and basic services, such as health care and education.15 Critically, many children with possible links to individuals suspected of being foreign fighters may face the risk of statelessness16 and many lack official documentation or birth certificates. In Iraq, for example, up to 13,000 children younger than 12 years old reportedly lack birth certificates or other documentation to establish their nationalities. Some may be of Iraqi parentage, while others may have one or two foreign parents.17 to a risk of family separation. Some States have implemented a policy whereby only orphans are repatriated. Others have repatriated only children younger than a certain age, in contravention of international law, which confers special protections to everyone under the age of 18. Allowing only some children to return inevitably results in family separation, both from primary caregivers as well as from older siblings, another violation of children’s basic rights. Separation may also be caused by measures intended to prevent children from accompanying a caregiver to a territory where the child risks forced recruitment.21 6. International human rights law provides the right for everyone to enter his or her own country.18 Still, some countries of origin bar their citizens - including both adults suspected of being associated with designated terrorist groups and their children, from returning.19 Consequently, such children are left in prolonged detention or stranded in foreign countries in legal and administrative limbo.20 Some of the countries are willing to repatriate children from conflict zones, but not their parents or guardians, leading 7. There are concerns that children of suspected foreign fighters may pose a threat in the future, especially without effective individualized assessments, protection measures and rehabilitation and reintegration assistance.22 Such children must be recognized as victims of human rights violations, involuntarily associated with groups that commit these grievous violations against their rights. However, there exists a wariness to assisting these children, including those who want to return to their own or their parents’ countries of origin. Handling such cases effectively generally requires a whole-of-government and all-of-society approach. However, local communities, Governments, and the media have been reluctant to provide services and assistance to child victims, often due to the negative perceptions and stigma associated with such children. 14 A/HRC/40/70, para. 10. 15 A/HRC/40/70, para. 45; World Health Organization (WHO) reported of deaths of at least 29 children between December 2018 and January 2019 in in Al-Hol camp in Al-Hasakeh governorate, Syria, where the authorities are reportedly overwhelmed with the number of people coming into the camp. WHO is concerned over critical health situation in Al-Hol camp, Al-Hasakeh (Damascus, 2019). Available at www.emro.who.int/syr/syria-news/who-concerned-overcritical-health-situation-in-al-hol-camp-al-hasakeh.html 16 S/2019/50, para. 93; A/2019/103, paras. 62, 63; S/2019/103, para. 21; A/HRC/40/70, para. 10. 17 S/2019/103, para. 21; S/2019/50, para 93. 18 S/2019/103, para. 21; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), art. 12(4). Policy Background of the Handbook 8. The United Nations has repeatedly reaffirmed that all counter-terrorism measures must comply with international law, particularly human rights, humanitarian and refugee law, placing 19 S/2019/103, para. 21. 21 A/HRC/40/28, para. 34. 20 A/HRC/40/70, para. 10. 22 S/2019/50, para. 92; S/2019/103, para. 10. 13.