Left to Survive. Systematic Failure to Protect Unaccompanied Migrant Children in Greece
- Document number
- 2033
- Date
- 2008
- Title
- Left to Survive. Systematic Failure to Protect Unaccompanied Migrant Children in Greece
- Author/publisher
- Human Rights Watch (HRW)
- Availability
- View/save PDF version of this document
- Document type(s)
- Research/Study/Analysis,
- Keywords
- Family reunification, Guardian, Family Tracing, Age Assessment, Freedom from Detention, Interim Care, Integration, Adoption, Best Interests Principle, Child Victims of Trafficking, Separated Migrant Children, Unaccompanied minors, Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Child protection systems,
- Summary
This report highlights the systematic failure of the Greek system to protect unaccompanied migrant children. Approximately 1000 children entered Greece in 2008 without parents or caregivers. They are mainly coming from war-torn countries like Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq. The Greek police is responsible for virtually all aspects of immigration and asylum yet several testimonies show that police officers and coast guards beat, kick or slap children and adult migrants. Children are routinely detained and procedures for assessing their age or vulnerability are totally inadequate. Only a small minority of unaccompanied children ask for asylum no matter how solid their refugee claim. Unaccompanied children face serious obstacles accessing asylum procedures in Greece and if they manage to apply for asylum only a few are represented by a guardian or lawyer. There is also a severe shortage of safe accommodation for unaccompanied foreign children. HRW calls on the Greek government to revise its system and services to ensure adequate protection of unaccompanied migrant and asylum seeking children. HRW also recommends EU Member States to suspend transfers of unaccompanied children to Greece under the Dublin Regulation until Greece's asylum system and protection services meet international standards. The European Commission should take legal action against Greece and at the same time draft a comprehensive set of provisions that improve protection for unaccompanied children throughout the EU.
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