ALL | 2017

2017

• 31/07/2017
  - Unacceptable conditions for the detention of unaccompanied minors in Northern Greece
  
  During a series of inspections in Northern Greece, from 17 to 19 July 2017, the Ombudsman was faced with unacceptable detention conditions of unaccompanied minors in Northern Greece, as a significant number of them are subject to unfavourable conditions of deprivation of liberty. A group of Investigators led by the Deputy Ombudsman for Children’s Rights of the Independent Authority, carried out on-the-spot checks in police stations and in structures and hosting facilities for immigrants and refugees, where minors are accommodated,in Diavata, Lagadikia, Volvi, Serres, Kavala and Drama. The checks showed, inter alia, that many minors remain in police stations up to several weeks in completely unsuitable facilities and without the right to go outdoors. The Ombudsman reaffirmed that the stay of unaccompanied children in detention facilities, such as police stations and pre-removal centres, constitutes a flagrant violation of their rights and poses a direct risk to their smooth unobstructed development. The Ombudsman’s visit to Northern Greece took place within the framework of the monitoring mechanism for the rights of children on the move, supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund/UNICEF.
• 22/05/2017
  - Safeguarding the rights of children in the process of family reunification and relocation
  
  The Ombudsman addressed a letter to the competent Greek authorities, containing its findings and proposals on family reunification and relocation of accompanied and unaccompanied minors. This initiative aims to pinpoint the difficulties and highlight the need for improvements in order to enhance legal and safe routes of accepting children in the EU Member States and reduce threats to their fundamental rights.
• 02/05/2017
  - International meeting in the Swedish Parliament on the rights of children in need of international protection
  
  The Position Statement on urging the EU institutions to respect the rights of the child in developing the new Common European Asylum System (CEAS) was adopted in Stockholm on 24 April 2017, in an international meeting at the Swedish Parliament, attended by the Greek Deputy Ombudsperson for the Rights of the Child Georgios Moschos. The meeting was co-organised by the Swedish Parliament, the Swedish Ombudsman for Children and the Institute for the Welfare of Children and was attended by the Swedish Minister for Children, representatives of the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of Europe and children’s rights organisations and ombudsmen of the Child from many European countries.