Children in asylum procedures: Child Notices : country of origin reports 2013-2015

1. Children in asylum procedures: Child Notices: country of originreports 2013-2015

2. Project “Better information fordurablesolutionsandprotection” (UNICEF Sweden, UNICEF Belgium and UNICEF The Netherlands) The development of childspecific country of originreports (Child Notices) 2013-2015

3. Make childrenvisible • 2013: > 12,000 unaccompanied minors appliedforasylum in EU countries • Children in families • Children as (hidden) victims of human trafficking • Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria

4. Best interest of the child • Article 3 UN CRC: in all actions concerning children the best interest of the child should be a primary consideration • General Comment nr 14 – 2013: Assess and determine the best interest of the child while looking for a durable solution

5. Key features • Be informed by the CRC • Be holistic • Ensure child participation through child-friendly procedures and proper information and support • Should consider a range of solutions • Demonstrate and document that the child’s best interests have been a primary consideration • Be multi-disciplinary • Due process – safe guards

6. General Comment UNCRC General Comment No 14 (2013) on implementation of article 3 CRC: • Best Interest Assessment: find out what are the relevant elements in a best-interest assesssment, givethem concrete content, andassign a weighttoeach in relationto the other • Best Interest Determination: the formal proces withproceduralsafeguardstodetermine the best interest of the child

7. Best Interest Assessment Non-exhaustiveand non-hierarchical list of elements: • The child’s view • The child’sidentity • Preservation of the family environment andmaintaining relations • Care, protectionandsafety of the child • Situation of vulnerability • The child’s right to health • The child’s right toeducation

8. BID in asylum procedures • Child’s claim forinternationalprotection -> a BID is a necessary element; what is the best, durable solution forthischild? • (UNHCR Guidelines, GC No 14, BIC-model) • What do youneedfor a BID? -> information! General andindividual • Country of origin information reports (COI) -> lack of child-specific information

9. Durable solution A durable solution is a sustainable solution that ensures that children are able to develop into adulthood, in an environment which will meet his or her needs and fulfils his or her rights, as defined by the CRC, and will not put the child at risk of persecution or serious harm.

10. PossibleDurable Solution

11. Durable solution • Thoseinvolvedshouldconduct a comparison of possible (durable) solutions ..andweighpossiblecompetingrights of the child… • andassesswhichdurable solution will best enable the childtoexercise his/her full range of rights

12. PossibleDurableSolutions “Non-rights-basedargumentssuch as thoserelatingtogeneralmigration control, cannotoverride best interestsconsiderations” General Comment No 6 – Committee on the Rights of the Child

13. Child Notice A Child Notice: • Gives information on countries of origin of children on the move: • Identifying potential (child and gender-specific) forms and manifestations of persecution • Identifying other factors relevant to decisions as to whether remaining in the host country or return is in the best interests of the child, including local responses to returnees • Is essential in assessing the best interest of the childand the effect of decisions on children.

14. Project “Better information fordurablesolutionsandprotection” (December 2013 – December 2015), financiallysupportedby the European Commission) 3parts: • Child notices: • Methodology • 8 reports (Albania, Afghanistan, Guinee, Morocco) • The use of the Child noticesby target groups • Advocacy on the use of the Child notices in best interest assessment

15. Content Child Notice Based on UN CRC • General principles • Non discrimination • Best interest of the child • The right to life, survival anddevelopment • Respect for the views of the child • Basic rights • Health Child protection • Nutrition • Water, SanitationandHygiens • Education

16. Specificvulnerablegroups of minors • Children of refugeesandInternally Displaced People • Orphans, unaccompanied minors andseperatedchildren • Children with a handicap • Victims of childtrafficking • (Ex) childsoldiers • Potentialvictimsof FGM • Othervulnerable minors

17. Child-specificformsandmanifestation of persecutions • Age, lack of maturity, vulnerability • Under-age recruitment • Child trafficking • FGM • Family anddomesticviolence • Forced or underagemarraige • Bonded or hazardouschildlabour • Forcedprostitutionandchildpronography • Violations of economic, socialandculturalrights

18. Limits of COI • Not every event or situation, especially those of a minor nature, is reported or available • Available information can be contradictory • Reliability of certain sources cannot be assessed • Overload of information makes it difficult to select information in a balanced manner

19. Challenges • Local research – monitoring is done at a distance • How to balance the information • How to assess sources • How to keep information up to date • Enough detail • Availability of regional information • Lack of statistical data and child-specific data • Difficulty to report on non-state persecution • Limited budget - limited time for research • Proper use of the Child Notice