Unwelcome Responsibilities Spain's Failure to Protect the Rights of Unaccompanied Migrant Children in the Canary Islands

Hundreds of unaccompanied migrant children from Africa held in government facilities in the Canary Islands are at risk of violence and ill-treatment. In the past year, more than 900 unaccompanied migrant children have arrived in the Canary Islands after dangerous and often traumatic journeys in makeshift boats. In response to this unprecedented number of migrant children arriving on its shores, the Canary Islands regional authorities one year ago opened four emergency centers to house 400-500 migrant children, who are mainly boys from Senegal and Morocco. The report documents how children stay in these centers for indefinite periods, in often overcrowded and poor conditions.