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Summary: As Charles Clarke announced the Labour
party’s 5 year plan on immigration and asylum
today, Save the Children expressed outrage
about proposals to return unaccompanied
asylum-seeking children to their home country.
Labour plans for removal of separated children ignore the best interests of
the child
As Charles Clarke announced the Labour party’s 5 year plan on
immigration and asylum today, Save the Children expressed outrage about
proposals to return unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to their home
country.
Responding to the announcement, Mike Aaronson, Director General of Save
the Children said:
“ We are extremely concerned that vulnerable children are being used as
scapegoats for the Government to appear tough on asylum. Separated
children come to the UK for protection - many are fleeing from conflict and
abuse, others are the victims of trafficking and exploitation. These children
must not be forced to return home without thorough investigation of what
they are returning to.”
Returning a child to their country of origin requires sensitive and thorough
investigation. There are clear child protection issues when children are
returned alone to countries where their safety and welfare needs cannot
be met.
The Home Office is about to conduct a pilot on the return of unaccompanied
children. As a minimum, the government must conduct this pilot before
announcing a major increase in returns.
“We have major concerns about the treatment of unaccompanied children,’
Aaronson continued. ‘The situation in the UK is already dire. Three
quarters of children seeking asylum are currently allowed to stay but only
on a temporary basis. These children face an uncertain future, never
knowing when they might be forced to return home to situations that are
unimaginable. Now the Government is proposing to make the situation
even worse.”
Recommendations:
The best interests of the individual child must be put first.
A system of guardianship must be introduced to ensure that the best
interests principle is maintained and that separated children are supported
through the system
A programme of return must be preceded by a high quality asylum process
that provides a safety net, in the form of a judicial remedy, with suspensive
action, against return decisions regarding children.
Family tracing should be prioritised, and institutional care avoided in the
country of return.
For more information, interviews and case studies from Save the Children’s
work with separated asylum seeking children in the UK, please contact:
Association: Save the Children UK