The European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) has released an ad-hoc Position Statement addressing the urgent need to protect the rights of children on the move at EU borders, in the context of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
Over the years, ENOC has consistently highlighted the extreme vulnerabilities faced by this group of children and the critical need for strong safeguards. Children and young people, unaccompanied, fleeing conflicts or seeking asylum, continue to face violence, pushbacks, and detention at European borders, which are practices that breach international and national child rights standards.
As EU Member States implement the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, ENOC members emphasise the need to prioritise children’s rights in all circumstances. Safeguards such as access to fair asylum procedures, the promotion of the best interest of the child, and the prohibition of detention for migration-related reasons must be guaranteed.
The ENOC ad-hoc Position Statement outlines key principles and recommendations to protect the rights of children on the move and calls for enhanced cooperation mechanisms across the EU.
Read the full statement HERE.
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