Inferior care for separated children must stop

Separated children who have come to Ireland without their parents are not receiving adequate support from the State and are dealing with an asylum process that doesn’t take into account their age or vulnerability, according to the Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan today (Thursday). The Children’s Ombudsman made her comments at the launch of the findings of a project with separated children undertaken by her Office earlier this year.

The overall aim of the separated children project was to better understand the life and level of care afforded to separated children in Ireland by hearing directly from this group of young people. Earlier this year one of the recommendations of the Ryan Report was that children in care facilities are well placed to identify failings and deficiencies and children should be consulted on these matters.

The project report, which is being launched on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, sets out concerns raised by separated children themselves and adults on their behalf. The report also contains the Children’s Ombudsman’s own concerns and a set of recommendations.

These recommendations include:

• the best interests of the child must be considered in any new legislation;
• there should not be discrimination in the provision of care;
• the children should be allocated an independent guardian; and
• the asylum process for separated children should be improved.

Emily Logan said: “Separated children are entitled to the same treatment and rights as nationals or resident children. They should be treated as children first and foremost. All considerations of their immigration status should be secondary.

These children may be seeking asylum because of fear of persecution or the lack of protection due to human rights violations, armed conflict or disturbances in their own country. They may be the victims of trafficking for sexual or other exploitation, or they may have travelled to Europe to escape conditions of serious deprivation.”

Emily added: “It is important to note that some welcome steps have been taken since this project concluded such as the closing or a number of the private hostels. However, there are still young people living in uninspected, private hostels and the asylum process remains what the young people have described as very stressful and not particularly child friendly, or indeed sensitive to their unique situation.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Separated children are defined by the Separated Children in Europe Programme as “children under 18 years of age who are outside their country of origin and separated from both parents, or previous/legal customary primary care giver”.

The HSE was instrumental in facilitating the OCO’s initial roll out of the project, as well as supporting the project throughout. The Ombudsman for Children’s Office is very appreciative of this assistance.

The Ombudsman for Children has statutory responsibility for promoting the rights of all children living in Ireland.

The Ombudsman for Children Act, 2002, stipulates that the Ombudsman for Children has an obligation to consult children on matters of concern to them and to highlight these concerns.

For more information contact Nikki Gallagher at 086-8163246.

• 19 November 2009
• Type: Press Release
• Topic: Immigration