UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein [official profile] criticized [statement] the US policy of separating immigrant children from their parents in a statement made on Monday.

The commissioner cited the American Association of Pediatrics [professional organization], which called the policy “government-sanctioned child abuse.”

“The thought that any State would seek to deter parents by inflicting such abuse on children is unconscionable,” said Zeid.

The commissioner said that the US needs to “immediately end” forced separation of children and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child [treaty]. Zeid said that ratification of the treaty will “ensure that the fundamental rights of all children, whatever their administrative status, will be at the centre of all domestic laws and policies.”

Earlier this month a spokesperson for the commissioner urged [JURIST report] the US to halt child separation. Also in June a federal judge ruled [JURIST report] that the child separation policy may violate due process. Last week Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered [JURIST report] judges to stop granting asylum to victims of domestic or gang violence.