The event “Age assessment of unaccompanied migrant children: promoting a human rights and multidisciplinary approach” is organised jointly by Italy’s National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP) and the Office of the Special Representative on Migration and Refugees of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE), in the framework of the Italian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.

The Italian Protocol for age assessment of unaccompanied migrant children will be presented, as well as the results of a national survey on its implementation at regional level. Other national procedures on age assessment, from Austria and Greece, will also be presented and discussed so that European countries can exchange information and learn from each other´s experience in the implementation of age assessment systems.

“Although the assessment of age is not a purely medical provision, it is indeed of fundamental importance for the respect of the migrant's mental and physical health during his or her stay in the reception system. Therefore, this method should be activated as soon as possible whenever there are justified doubts about the real age of a migrant, just to protect the vulnerability of the minor. It is precisely for this reason that the procedure has to be done in a culturally appropriate way, so that the supposed minor does not refuse to undergo it“, said the Director General of INMP, Concetta Mirisola.

The Council of Europe´s expertise in this field includes recommendations, guidelines, training courses and a compilation of standards and good practices. In addition, the Council of Europe is currently in the final stages of adopting a Recommendation on Human Rights Principles and Guidelines on age assessment for children in the context of migration, which is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum in Europe (2021-2025).

 Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees