France From best practices down to zero protection of migrant minors

Project : RETURN 15 Jun 2009 |

France*: “Since 2007, the radical change of the local policies broke down the best practices to reach now the ‘level zero’ of protection of foreign children wandering in Marseilles!” Christine Bartolomei, judge for minors and vice-president of the high court of Marseilles, was unfortunately very clear. She also emphasised the systematic use of bone age test to check the age of any foreign minors entering in contact with the local administration, even if the young foreigner presents identification documents. The suspicion of using forged documents implies today the pursuit of all detected migrants for a possible violation of the laws for foreigners.

More than hundred human rights activists, social workers, head of public and private social services were listening to the panelists invited yesterday by ‘Jeunes Errants’ federation. Specialised lawyers and medical doctors were presenting their critical views on bone age test and on the procedures to welcome foreign children in the Euro-Mediterranean harbour. Nick Mai, researcher at the institute for the study of European transformation of London explained the vulnerability and resilience factors of the young migrants, and described how anti trafficking policies better serve to controlling illegal migration than supporting the victims of trafficking.

Hélène Paillard, from ECPAT – France described the works of the French national coalition against trafficking in human beings. Child trafficking was chosen as the main advocacy theme of the coalition. The coalition addresses the standards of camps for illegal migrants at the border of Europe and calling for a profound change in EU Return Directive. The French NGO ’Hors la rue’ shared the latest findings of their activities between Romania and France. T*he number of newly detected foreign children increased with 45% and the average age decreased with one year only in 2008. The majority of children are between 10-12 years and 80% under 16*. The Head of the NGO, Alexandre Le Cleve, indicated as well that 72% of their beneficiaries came from the Roma communities in Romania.

With ‘Jeunes Errants’ federation, the European Forum for Urban Safety, together with Dr Oude Breuil (university of Utrecht) and the Swiss NGO Terre des hommes – Child Relief presented the main findings of their last joint publication: “Wandering young people: the conditions for return”. Profiles of minors and different schemes of unprepared migration schemes were presented based on 600 case studies. The study is a result of one and a half year collaboration between Barcelona, Turin, Marseilles, Innsbruck, Tirana and Bucharest.

The best practices are identified and are quite well know now between these cities. And similarities are detected between the practices of the NGOs active in countries of origin (prevention and protection activities) and the associations providing direct assistance and legal advice in the main locations of transit and destination. For many years, return of foreign minors have been proved to be possible, implemented only when it corresponds to the will of the child and his/her best interest. The transnational cooperation is crucial to implement it properly, and ‘Jeunes Errants’ federation is one of the pioneers in this case-per-case practice across borders. Unfortunately, the local decision makers of Marseilles did not prolong their support to the association, facing financial difficulties while waiting for late EU funding. The main drop-in centre is closed now. The experienced social workers are unemployed. And the young migrants, still arriving in Marseilles every day, may face the cruel reality of the second French city deprived of street workers able to understand them. [VT]