New advocacy brief jointly produced by IOM, UNHCR and UNICEF to improve safety and dignity for refugee and migrant children
This advocacy brief is based on a desk review of practices in 38 European States in relation to the detention of asylum-seeking, refugee and migrant children, either upon or after arrival, for reasons
relating to immigration or asylum. It seeks to reiterate the continued concerns of the three organisations regarding the use of immigration detention and shares recommendations for alternatives to detention and appropriate care arrangements in Europe. The advocacy brief recalls the minimum safeguards pointed out by a range of international and regional standards critical to ensure the protection of children and amongst them, family tracing and reunification as well as psychosocial and mental health support, both crucial in terms of preservation and restoration of the child’s identity. CHIP welcomes this advocacy brief and strongly supports the following recommendation addressed to States which “should enhance reception conditions, in particular for families and children, and ensure timely identification, and referral of children to national child protection authorities and services, including health services, mental health and psychosocial support, as well as family tracing and reunification.”
