Lords to debate report on unaccompanied migrant children in the EU
The House of Lords will tomorrow, Tuesday 1 November, debate the EU Committee report from July on unaccompanied migrant children, “Children in Crisis”.
Among those down to speak are Baroness Prashar, Chair of the EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee, Lord Dubs, and Lord Soley.
The debate is being moved by Baroness Prashar, and Baroness Williams of Trafford will respond on behalf of the Government.
The debate is expected to start from around 5.30pm.
The report, Children in Crisis: unaccompanied migrant children in the EU, was published in July and highlighted four underlying problems faced by unaccompanied migrant children:
Lack of solidarity
Member States across the EU are failing to share the burden collectively and very little progress has been made in relocating unaccompanied child migrants.
Unfinished business
The Committee found that the implementation of existing measures to protect these children has been poor, and that the Commission's Action Plan which ended in 2014 has not been renewed. It concludes that this lack of action is leading to an increased vulnerability of unaccompanied children to smugglers, traffickers and organised crime.
A culture of disbelief
Unaccompanied migrant children are often not believed and treated with a level of suspicion, with age disputes often adversely affecting their treatment and their well-being.
Lack of trust
Children display a lack of trust in the authorities, and in some cases resort to drastic measures to avoid cooperating with them.
