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Since 2015, more than a million children have arrived in Council of Europe member states seeking refuge from war, conflict and poverty. “Urgent action is needed to protect and integrate them as quickly as possible, in particular those children who are unaccompanied or have been separated from their families,” warned Nawel RAFIK ELMRINI (France, SOC), presenting the report on “Unaccompanied refugee children: the role and responsibilities of local and regional authorities”. The debate was held on 28 March 2018, in Strasbourg, France, at the 34th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, with the participation of Tomáš BOČEK, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, and Line OSTAD (Norway), a Congress youth delegate and member of Grimstad municipal council.
The resolution and recommendation adopted by the Congress stress the need for a child-rights-based approach and the specific role of towns and regions, especially in terms of schooling, health, housing, psychological and social support. That also means greater co-operation between the various levels of governance as well as with NGOs and civil society. The report underlines the need to remove restrictions on access to shelters and to introduce alternatives to the detention of families and children, in order to avoid any risk of violence or abuse.
The Congress calls on the national authorities to fast-track applications for asylum from unaccompanied and separated children. It recommends that care be taken to ensure they have full access to the justice system and are provided with proper legal representation at all stages of the process. In addition, an assessment of national migration and asylum processes is needed to determine where children are most at risk and where they are most in need of protection. As regards reception facilities, the national authorities are invited to map these, ensure that they receive regular financial support and check that they meet European standards.
** 34th Session of the Congress **
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