SPAIN: Children or adults? Age assessment practices

This report was published by the Spanish ombudsman on the age assessment practices of Spain when it comes to unaccompanied minors. It provides a catalogue of the shortcomings detected in the procedure set out for determining the age of those foreign nationals, arriving to Spain, who are doubted to actually be under age.

While the full report is in Spanish, an executive summary is available in English. The report was compiled by the Ombudsman’s office, based on the investigations carried out over the past few years. The result of all this effort is summarised into a number of conclusions recommending to the different government agencies involved in this matterchanges to improve the procedures which have been employed to date and to contribute toward setting up a more suitable system.

To read the full report in Spanish, click here. 

Further Information: 

• EUROPE: Methods for assessing the age of migrant children must be improved (9 August 2011) 
• AUSTRALIA: Wrist X-rays for age determination criticised (28 June 2011)