Destination Unknown. Protect children fleeing war and poverty, who make their way to an unknown destination. Destination Unknown is the Terre des Hommes campaign that aims to support and defend migrant minors. In Brussels, at the European Parliament, a public event was held yesterday, February 19, 2014, entitled: "My Destination is Unknown: children on the move, will the EU deliver on its commitments?".
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Protect i children migrants heading to an unknown destination, in escape from war, from violence and poverty. Destination Unknown is the campaign of Terre des Hommes which aims to support and defend migrant children. In Brussels, at the European Parliament, was held yesterday, February 19, 2014, a public event dal titolo: “My Destination is Unknown: children on the move, will the EU deliver on its commitments?”.
The meeting was organized by Terre des Hommes and MEP Nathalie Griesbeck. Terre des Hommes has decided to intervene for alert European political leaders towards the need for protect migrant children. According to Terre des Hommes, small migrants they are first of all children and they should be protected without discrimination, with full respect for their rights.
Access to education, health and social services, legal support and career guidance should therefore be ensured. The same rights should apply to all children, both European and non-European. Children and teens should have the opportunity to build your own life plan, regardless of their country of origin and whether they find themselves alone or can be followed and supported by their family.
During yesterday's meeting in Brussels, a young migrant had the opportunity to tell his story in front of European political leaders. Farah, an 18-year-old boy, gave voice to his story e he explained why he decided to migrate to Europe. He fled Somalia to Kenya with his parents when he was only 3 years old. During his adolescence he was the victim of violations of his fundamental rights and decided to leave in search of new hope in Europe.
His journey lasted 9 months and crossed Uganda, Sudan, the desert and Libya, before arriving in Malta, where in 2012 he managed to obtain asylum. Along the way he faced abuse, violence and detention. His story recalls that of millions of children and young migrants fleeing war and poverty.
The European Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom pointed out that at the moment there is no legal way to get to Europe, with reference to migrants, and that the situation must change. Young migrants move within European borders without receiving any help. Malmstron recalled that in Europe, according to the laws in force, the detention of migrant children is illegal and that they must be given access to some forms of protection and social services, as should be the case for all other children in need. A group of MEPs opened a debate on the issue, underlining theEU obligation to take action to protect minors.
Terre des Hommes continues to act to ensure that the detention of children and minors is prohibited not only in Eruopa, but throughout the world. They are estimated to be 214 million migrants who expatriate, while 740 million refugees are moving within their country. Minors make up a large portion of migrants arriving from developing countries, about a third of them aged between 12 and 25.
Their needs and interests are hardly ever taken into consideration by the institutions, e public opinion, according to what was communicated by Terre des Hommes, tends to perceive them as a threat. Precisely for this reason, children and minors often suffer persecution, detention or refoulement, without any protection. No state would really respect the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, governments would have an obligation to protect all children, including migrant children. Unfortunately, this often does not happen. The time has come to kickstart a change.
Click here to contribute to dissemination of the campaign Destination Unknown.
For more information: www.destination-unknown.org.
Marta Albè
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