Rehana is highly experienced in complex public law litigation, particularly in
cases involving vulnerable individuals. Her practice includes age assessment
disputes, unlawful detention, asylum support, and claims involving trafficking
and community care.
Here Rehana shares challenges and protections for vulnerable young migrants.
After explaining the definition of “unaccompanied minors,” she outlines key
legal challenges amidst the legislative and policy landscape. This includes
practical considerations to be made when representing unaccompanied
minors, with the aim of ensuring litigation procedural fairness and to protect
the rights of unaccompanied minors. She refers to key case law and guidance.

Key words/topics:
Unaccompanied Minors
Unaccompanied asylum seeking child
Unaccompanied migrant child
Unaccompanied EEA national child
Asylum seeking child
Children Act 1989 & 2004
Immigration Act 2016
National Transfer Scheme
Nationality and Borders Act 2022
Safeguarding
National Age Assessment Board
The Immigration (Age Assessments) Regulations 2024
The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration Report
Granted refugee status
Refused asylum but granted humanitarian protection

Refused asylum but granted Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Child (UASC)
Leave.
Refused asylum and granted no leave to remain
Modern Slavery Act 2015
“Merton-Compliant Age Assessments”
B, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Merton [2003] EWHC 1689
(Admin) (14 July 2003)
A v Croydon LBC [2009]
Age disputes
ZH (Tanzania) v SSHD [2011]
(ECPAT UK) v Kent CC & SSHD [2023]
Trauma-informed and child-sensitive advocacy
Stakeholder engagement