Elise Franklin

Elise Franklin is a PhD candidate at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Her thesis is titled “The Interpretation of ‘Particular Social Group’ in Refugee Law: An Avenue for Street Children to be Recognised as Refugees?” From a children’s rights perspective, her research considers the experiences of street children in Central America with the aim of understanding whether this group of children should be considered a particular social group in refugee law, particularly in the US. Her research includes a heavy empirical research component, including having undertaken interviews with NGOs working with street children in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. 

Elise previously worked for the New Zealand government, determining claims for refugee and protection status. She holds a Master of Arts in Development Studies, Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor Arts with a double major in Political Studies and Criminology from the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

The Interpretation of ‘Particular Social Group’ in Refugee Law: An Avenue for Street Children to be Recognised as Refugees?

From a children’s rights perspective, my research seeks to examine the particular vulnerabilities of street children as distinct from those of other impoverished or disadvantaged children, in order to determine whether street children may constitute a ‘particular social group’ for the purpose of being recognised as refugees. The case law on this issue is contentious and mixed, particularly in the US, which as therefore been identified as my primary focus country.