Athens/Kos, May 17, 2024 - Together with the artist Lotte, the child rights organization Terre des Hommes appeals to not let refugee children and adolescents down at the external borders of the EU. As Terre of the Hommes ambassador, Lotte had previously visited projects for refugee children in Athens and on the Greek island of Kos, got to know the work of the Terre of the Hommes partner organizations and got an idea of the situation on site.
“I knew about the terrible pushbacks in which children, young people and families are pushed back by force when they flee to Greece via the sea. But seeing how traumatized, in need of protection and even unaccompanied children during their asylum procedure on KOS behind barbed wire are held on huge concrete fortune, a shock was for me. If children are locked up or separated from their families, it can never be excused and nothing to apologize, «says Lotte.
The warehouse system on the Greek islands has long been criticized by Terre des Hommes and other civil society organizations: in addition to the child's rights of imprisonment, the lack of privacy, the completely inadequate health care and lack of educational opportunities are systematically violated children's rights. "Even if they get a right to stay, families in Kos often end up on the street because the Greek recording system offers almost no support," Lotte continues.
In Athens too, numerous unaccompanied minor refugees live on the street and are therefore exposed to the risk of human trafficking and prostitution. Families whose asylum application has already been decided positively can often spend the night in the completely overcrowded camps outside the city, but are not available there. »In the projects of Terre des Hommes, refugee families get urgently needed food and hygiene articles, but also legal advice. Together with Terre des Hommes, I campaign so that those who had to experience abuse and violence, war and flight in Europe. «
With a view to the European elections on June 9th, Terre des Hommes asks all EU citizens to bring their own voice for more humanity: "Both the Greek government and the EU must finally do justice to their responsibility for children, young people and their families," said Teresa Wilmes, a consultant for flight and migration in Europe. "At the same time, Germany should also relieve state systems at the EU's external borders with extensive reconnaissance programs and offer children and adolescents seeking protection for protection after their often long flight."