New EU returns policy puts children at risk say UNICEF
by Catherine MALLET
Last week the European Commission announced new measures for ‘an efficient and credible EU return policy’. The renewed EU Action Plan on Return was presented as well as a set of recommendations on how to increase the effectiveness of the Return Directive (Directive2008/115/EC).
However UN agencies and a number of leading child rights organisations are concerned by the new policies, highlighting that the European Commission is encouraging member states to undertake ‘swift returns’ of people – including children – with reduced procedural safeguards and through the increased use of detention.
EU levels partners PICUM, together with UNICEF and others shared with the EU Affairs Office their own press release highlighting their concerns about the new action plan and recommendations, stressing ‘Forced removals and detention are extremely harmful for children and families. Children should never be detained for immigration purposes, even as a last resort’. Amnesty International’s EU office has also denounced the plans saying "That children are included in this wide detention regime is truly shocking,”. (Source EU Observer)
Read the Commission’s new Action Plan here
Tags: Europe