The International Rescue Committee (IRC) warns of persistent dangers faced by unaccompanied children in Europe, as 74% decisions for family reunification from Greece are negative

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has published its report “A chance for a better future: Supported independent living and the protection of unaccompanied children in Greece”, aiming to highlight the importance of strengthening the multiple durable solutions available for unaccompanied children in Greece. Since 2016, over 37000 unaccompanied children have been referred for state accommodation in Greece. According to IRC, children’s safety is jeopardized from the moment they arrive to the country due to poor lodging and reception facilities, a lack of identification and registration services and a lack of appointed guardians. As reported, the waiting time for family reunification in Greece can be up to two years and children are subjected to great difficulties affecting their access to housing, healthcare, schooling and the asylum process while they wait to find out whether their application for family reunification has been successful. These family reunification requests of unaccompanied children in Greece have been rejected by other EU Member States in 74% of the cases. Garyfallia Tsiara, Child Protection Manager (IRC Greece), stated: “No child should be denied the right to grow up with their family and unaccompanied children should not be waiting for years to be reunited with family members already settled in Europe, nor should they be barred from attending schools while they are in Greece. Instead, EU countries should fulfill their pledges to relocate unaccompanied children swiftly and put family unity at the heart of their asylum policies.”

Child Identity Protection (CHIP) joins IRC’s call for the European Union and its Member States to use all available means to guarantee the right to identity of unaccompanied children by preserving family relations through reunification, where in the child’s best interests. CHIP welcomes this timely report as Greece will be examined by the CRC Committee next year.

Source: https://www.rescue.org/press-release/irc-report-unaccompanied-children-europe-remain-danger-74-decisions-family, https://www.rescue-uk.org/report/chance-better-future-supported-independent-living-and-protection-unaccompanied-children and https://www.child-identity.org/en/news/human-rights/279-greece.html See also: Council of Europe (2020). Family reunification for refugee and migrant children – Standards and promising practices, https://rm.coe.int/family-reunification-for-refugee-and-migrant-children-standards-and-pr/16809e8320