Committee Opinion | Doc. 14174 | 12 October 2016
Harmonising the protection of unaccompanied minors in Europe
Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
A. Conclusions of the committee
(open)The Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development welcomes and supports the report prepared by the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons. It congratulates its rapporteur, Mr Manlio Di Stefano (Italy, NR), on tackling this most urgent matter aimed at protecting the human rights of a particularly vulnerable group of children, the unaccompanied migrant minors who are currently reaching Europe in great numbers. The committee also congratulates the Migration Committee for its previous activities in this field, including several texts debated by the Assembly and, since 2015, the Parliamentary Campaign to End Immigration Detention of Children.
The report submitted to the Assembly by the Migration Committee covers most aspects related to the protection of unaccompanied minors in a comprehensive manner, calling both for harmonisation of European legislation and practice and for national measures aimed at protecting and supporting migrant children.
Whilst fully agreeing to the scope of operational measures suggested by the Migration Committee, the Committee on Social Affairs wishes to propose a small number of amendments to better emphasise a few specific aspects related to the protection of unaccompanied migrants. All proposals are made in the light of the Social Affairs Committee’s own activities and experiences, in particular the parliamentary dimension of the ONE in FIVE Campaign to stop sexual violence against children (2011-2016).
B. Proposed amendments
(open)Amendment A (to the draft resolution)
After paragraph 8.2.1, insert the following new paragraph:
“assigning responsibilities to institutions specifically in charge of implementing programmes for the protection of unaccompanied migrant minors and for supervising and co-ordinating their asylum procedures involving various public authorities and services as well as civil society organisations;”
Amendment B (to the draft resolution)
In paragraph 8.2.2, after the words “dedicated accommodation”, add the words:
“protection against any form of violence and abuse (including sexual abuse and exploitation and human trafficking),”
Amendment C (to the draft resolution)
In paragraph 8.2.2, replace the words “which minimise their physical and psychological predicament” with the words:
“which are conducive to their rapid recovery from physical and psychological hardship;”
Amendment D (to the draft resolution)
In paragraph 8.2.3, after the word “interpretation”, insert the words:
“and counselling”
Amendment E (to the draft resolution)
In paragraph 8.2.3, after the word “confusion”, add the word:
“, re-traumatisation,”
Amendment F (to the draft resolution)
At the beginning of paragraph 8.2.8, replace the words “with respect to missing migrant children” with the following new words:
“to prevent unaccompanied migrant children from going missing,”