"Wherever they are and wherever they go, Rohingya children in south and southeast Asia face discrimination, exclusion, and denial of their most basic rights. For most of these children, these challenges begin in Myanmar, where the Rohingya community has suffered decades of state-sponsored persecution and violence. However, even after Rohingya families have left Myanmar – often in search of safety or a better life for themselves and their families – Rohingya continue to experience unequal treatment and denial of their rights, which over time has exposed them, their children, and their children’s children to ever-widening cycles of deprivation and marginalisation. This report examines the situation of Rohingya children in five countries in southeast and south Asia: Myanmar, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. As places of origin, transit, and/or destination, these countries are home – either permanently or temporarily – to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya children. All countries are required under international law to respect, protect, and fulfil these children’s human rights. Yet too often these rights are denied. Based on in-depth desk research, key informant interviews, and analysis of national laws, the report examines three areas affecting Rohingya children’s lives and enjoyment of their rights: legal status and access to identity documentation; access to education; and risks to security and wellbeing, in addition to other child protection concerns. While not intended as a comprehensive examination of the situation, the report seeks to provide a snapshot of the challenges – in law, policy, and practice – that prevent Rohingya children in these countries from living their lives in safety and with dignity, equality, and respect for their rights.....LIFE ON THE MARGINS:Based on publicly available information and estimates by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other credible sources, there are close to 700,000 Rohingya children in the five countries covered by this report. Rohingya boys and girls live lives on the margins of society across the region. Most lack any formal legal status – deprived of the right to a nationality in Myanmar and effectively rendered stateless as a result. Most Rohingya children inherit their de facto statelessness from their parents and – when they grow up – go on to pass it on to their children, perpetuating cycles of exclusion and marginalisation. Rohingya children also often struggle to access birth registration, which means they often have often no official record that they even exist. Failure to provide children with birth certificates exposes them to a range of age-related abuse and exploitation and can prevent them from exercising other rights and receiving legal recognition and protection as children. Across the region, Rohingya children struggle to access comprehensive, quality education. The reasons for this are varied and wide-ranging. In some countries, discriminatory policies prohibit Rohingya children from accessing formal education, while in others, policies which on paper should facilitate access to education are not enforced or fully implemented. In several countries where access to formal education is restricted, United Nations (UN) agencies, NGOs and Rohingya community groups have stepped into provide informal education; however, quality varies and lack of resources – including adequate funding, facilities and teaching staff – poses significant challenges. While primary-level education is generally more available, lack of schools and limited financial resources mean that secondary level students often struggle to continue their studies. Even when they do, education is often not accredited, which means that children leave school with no officially recognised qualification. Adolescent girls experience greater difficulties going to school as cultural attitudes deprioritise girls’ education and they face greater threats to their physical safety when traveling long distances to the nearest school. As a result, girls are much more likely to drop out of school, placing them at greater risk of early marriage and adolescent pregnancy. Without education, children grow up with limited opportunities to build a better life for themselves, and this can have devastating impacts on their emotional and psychological well-being. It also seriously limits their ability to earn an income, often condemning them to a life of poverty..."