From the rights of asylum-seeking children to the energy transition – University of Vaasa doctoral researchers examine the realisation of human rights

Human rights are internationally recognised fundamental values of the legal order to which states commit themselves. The realisation of fundamental and human rights demonstrates that the rule of law functions in practice, not only in principle.

– The vulnerable are protected and human dignity is safeguarded also in contexts such as the energy transition and challenging security environments, says Professor of Public Law Niina Mäntylä, describing the core idea of human rights.

In practice, however, different human rights often need to be balanced against one another, and available resources are limited. Human rights issues may also receive different emphasis in different parts of the world due to historical and political factors.

– Our doctoral research projects make visible how human rights are realised in practice and in which situations limitations on rights are considered acceptable. The findings can help develop both the human rights system and the work of national authorities, Mäntylä says.

Unaccompanied children are a particularly vulnerable group

In her doctoral research, Tiina Petrelius examines the rights of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Finland. Her focus is on how the best interests of the child are interpreted in asylum and family reunification procedures.

– An asylum-seeking child is both a refugee and a child. I describe this position as a form of double exclusion, and it makes the interpretation of their rights particularly interesting, Petrelius says.

A child may arrive in a country alone, with a sibling, or accompanied by another adult, but without a parent or legal guardian. Finland receives approximately 100–200 such children each year. Across Europe, however, the phenomenon is both significant and growing: in 2024, tens of thousands of unaccompanied children arrived in the EU and Norway. The majority are boys aged 15–17.

The best interests of the child should guide decisions – But interpretations vary

Petrelius’s research addresses key human rights issues, including the right to seek asylum, children’s right to special protection, and the right to family life. The best interests of the child must be taken into account in all decision-making concerning children, but migration policy and security considerations also play a role. In a tightening security environment, the rights of vulnerable asylum-seeking children may be at risk of not being effectively protected.

– The concept of the best interests of the child is open to interpretation and inherently ambiguous. It is important to examine how authorities actually apply it in decision-making, Petrelius notes.

The study is based on an extensive confidential dataset from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), covering both asylum and family reunification decisions.

– The material makes it possible to systematically examine decision-making practices and increases understanding and transparency.

Prolonged displacement shapes children’s experiences

Although the research is still ongoing, it has already produced interesting observations. The data shows that many asylum-seeking children have lived as refugees or undocumented persons for most or all of their lives and may have little connection to their country of origin.

– I am exploring how a prolonged experience of not belonging affects a child’s wellbeing and their ability to describe their situation to authorities, Petrelius says.

Asylum decisions are largely based on the applicant’s own account, even though experiences may be traumatic and difficult to articulate. In the case of unaccompanied children, those accounts cannot be supplemented by information from parents.

Petrelius has previous experience in asylum case processing, yet the children’s stories continue to affect her.

– The severity and extremity of these children’s experiences are deeply moving. These decisions are always about real people and their lives.

Lengthy asylum procedures, often lasting several years, also place a considerable burden on children.

The best interests of the child are not always visible in decisions

One key finding is that the assessment of a child’s best interests is not always clearly explained in decisions.

– It is not always evident how the child’s best interests have been assessed or what has been considered to be in the child’s best interests.

The research also suggests that unaccompanied teenage boys in particular may sometimes be viewed partly as adults. Decision-makers may refer to them as “young men” or “almost adults.

– Although a 17-year-old is legally a child, they may in practice be assessed as if they were already an adult.

Petrelius’s research provides new knowledge about administrative decision-making and offers recommendations for strengthening children’s rights in asylum procedures.

– The goal is to promote the full realisation of the rights of children who are in the most vulnerable situations.

Managing oil resources has implications for human rights

Ama Opoku Acquah’s doctoral research explores how human rights, good governance, and sustainability can be more effectively integrated into the management of oil and gas resources. The study focuses on emerging oil- and gas-producing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Ghana and Uganda.

The study examines the relationship between oil and gas production and human rights issues, as well as the distinctive African context in which energy development often takes place in partnership with multinational energy companies. At the same time, many countries in the region continue to face energy poverty and the challenges associated with achieving a just energy transition.

Although oil and gas development can generate significant revenues for national economies, it is also associated with environmental impacts, land disputes, labour-related concerns, and human rights risks. The research also addresses issues such as gas flaring and the growing importance of corporate responsibility and sustainable business practices in the extractive industries.

– Multinational companies and oil- and gas-producing countries are facing growing obligations related to sustainability, corporate responsibility, and human rights. My research examines how these requirements are translated into the governance of natural resources in practice, says Ama.

Lessons from Europe’s energy transition

As part of research, Ama analyses how the protection of human rights has been incorporated into energy regulation in Europe. She focuses particularly on policy and regulatory frameworks in Norway, Denmark, and the United Kingdom and examines how international norms and European practices could support stronger human rights protections as well as more sustainable climate and natural resource governance in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Ama also highlights Finland as an example of how principles relating to environmental protection, human rights, and responsible governance can be embedded in the management of natural resources.

– Finland is widely recognised for its strong commitment to human rights protection and the high standards of responsibility and accountability in natural resource governance, says Ama.

The research also explores practical ways for reducing the adverse impacts of energy production. These include low-emission technologies and regulatory mechanisms that enable public authorities to guide energy companies towards more responsible practices.

Seeking solutions for sustainable energy governance

According to Ama, the findings of the study have the potential to contribute to both regional policymaking and broader international discussions on the energy transition.

– The research can contribute to the development of more sustainable energy governance, deepen understanding of the unique characteristics of Africa’s energy sector, and demonstrate how human rights, environmental responsibility, and energy production can be balanced across different social, economic, and regulatory contexts.

The study initially seeks to identify pathways towards an energy future that supports both sustainable development and the protection of fundamental rights.

Both Petrelius and Opoku Acquah have received significant grant funding to support their research. Petrelius has been awarded grants from the South Ostrobothnia Fund of the Finnish Cultural Foundation and the Alli Paasikivi Foundation, while Opoku Acquah has received funding from the Emil Aaltonen Foundation.