Preventing children in migration getting lost – What response from The Salvation Army?
by Catherine MALLET
Last week during a workshop on family reunification at the European Migration Forum The EU Affairs Office was able to raise issues highlighted to us by The Salvation Army UK in particular. From a UK perspective they told us there is a lack of case workers in the field, with only 1 Home Office official working in Italy, Greece and France. This is simply not enough to work on the cases of children who have relatives in the UK. They stress the need for collective political will and serious financial investment in the number of lawyers/case workers with the children and in the 'camps' who can research cases and establish family links. They also highlighted that identifying a family connection and reuniting family members needs to be done swiftly and without delay. Currently there are thousands of children who the authorities think may have family in other countries but their cases can take months to sort out, and in the meantime the children will seek other (dangerous) routes.
In light of the renewed action plan and recommendations on returns that the European Commission published last week, we are concerned that much more needs to need done to prevent unaccompanied children in particular from going missing. Without proper care unaccompanied children become vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking. Therefore safe alternatives must be provided. We would stress the need for a rapid process of appointment of legal guardians, focus on child-safe reception centres and well-trained frontline officers. Governing authorities need to do more and work together with a wide range of organisations to protect the vulnerable. There is also need for early identification for victims of human trafficking or other forms of exploitation. Providing swift and proper care would also prevent Member States from putting children in detention, which would now be encouraged according to the EU returns new policy.
Currently, in Athens, The Salvation Army is talking with the IOM in regards to safe zones for unaccompanied minors in the refugee camps and talking through protection issues surrounding unaccompanied children (UAC). As of October 2016, there are 2500 active cases of registered in Greece and they continue to arrive daily. The current national capacity to accommodate children in in UAC shelters (both long term and transit) is 1, 140. The remaining children (around 1627) are on a waiting list for referral for accommodation. These numbers are growing.
The Child Protection Sub Working Group – Athens is talking through and wanting to work through many of the issues with an emphasis here on better accommodations, efficient procedures, and better child involvement that results in the UAC’s best interest. The Salvation Army in Greece stresses the importance of efficient, unified, articulated, intentional procedures that are communicated to service providers and that they are followed and enforced.
The Salvation Army EU Affairs Office will be endorsing this joint statement ‘New EU Commission plans on returns and detention will create more harm and suffering’ and will continue to monitor the debate at EU level.
Tags: Europe