Terre des hommes (Tdh), together with 28 other organizations, has co-signed a Joint Advocacy Brief titled “Safeguarding the Rights of Unaccompanied Children at EU Borders under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.”
This initiative sheds light on the significant risks faced by unaccompanied children under certain provisions of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. It identifies critical challenges such as pushbacks, violence, inadequate age assessments, and detention, as well as gaps in identification processes, guardianship systems, and child-friendly procedures.
The brief offers concrete recommendations to EU Member States, urging them to:
- Strengthen safeguards to protect unaccompanied children.
- Ensure full compliance with international child protection standards.
- Enhance national frameworks for implementing child-friendly policies.
The overarching goal is to create a system that places the best interests of children at its core, guarantees access to essential services, and respects their fundamental rights to protection and asylum.
This report, developed collaboratively by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and FAR Bulgaria, is based on field evidence and policy analysis. It underscores the importance of prioritizing child protection within Europe’s migration and asylum policies.
