Detention of Migrant Children: Europe Can and Must Do Better

Migrant children often face grave human rights violations, including being deprived of their freedom, a rising feature of Europe’s migration policies.

On the occasion of the 11th European Forum on the Rights of the Child held on 7-8 November in Brussels, a coalition of NGOs along with UN agencies and bodies called on European governments to end the practice of detaining migrant children.

The coalition recommends the adoption of laws that prioritize children’s care and protection. It also advocates for human rights-based, child-friendly alternatives to detention, including community-based programmes.

Read the statement, endorsed by ICMC Europe.