The Child Rights Intergroup is a working body within the European Parliament formed by those deputies from different political parties who work together to ensure that children's rights are taken into account in the daily work of the institution, since there is no parliamentary committee specifically responsible for children in the European Parliament.
The Child Rights Intergroup has asked the Member States to respect and apply the recommendations included at the “Communication on protection of children in migration” of the European Commission.
The Communication of the European Commission on protection of children in migration is an indispensable tool that recognises the high vulnerability of migrant children and the urgent need of action. Now it is time for the States to assume their responsibility and show their commitment to protect migrant children.
The Intergroup emphasises especially that the Member States shall:
- Appoint a responsible for child protection in every access point in order to ensure children enter the protection systems.
- Identify durable solutions for children, whether they have a family or are unaccompanied minors, taking into account their superior interests as their primary consideration.
- Ensure prompt appointment of a guardian within 5 days of the child's arrival.
- Promote a European network of guardianship.
- Establish child safeguard policies in all childcare facilities.
- Improve cross-border cooperation to accelerate and support family reunification, make effective decisions under the Dublin agreements and address child trafficking.
- Develop procedures and protocols to improve the reporting of unaccompanied minors who are missing.
- Stop the arrest processes of migrant children and establish agreements for the care of minors and community programmes as alternatives to arrest.
- Accelerate the relocation of unaccompanied children in Greece and Italy.
For more information access the positioning here.
Source: News from the Child Rights Intergroup in the European Parliament
