For World Refugee Day on June 20th
June 17, 2022 - In the past ten years, the number of refugees and displaced persons has doubled; more than 100 million people are now on the run, including around 40 million children and young people under the age of 18. They are fleeing war, child and gender-specific persecution, environmental destruction, and a lack of prospects. "Never before have so many adults, children, and young people worldwide been forced to leave their places of residence. We all know the dangers that refugee children and young people are exposed to. It is therefore high time that the German government finally puts into practice the paradigm shift in refugee and migration policy announced in the coalition agreement," demands Beat Wehrle, spokesperson for the board of terre des hommes .
The coalition government has the opportunity to initiate some important reforms, at least at the national level. However, with the first legislative proposal, the so-called "right of opportunity" for residency, urgently needed improvements for refugee children and young people are being delayed. "Announcements from the coalition agreement, such as the easing of family reunification requirements, are not reflected in the draft law. Even if some relaxations of the residency requirements improve the situation of those with long-term tolerated stay status, important regulations on family reunification or a ban on detention pending deportation for minors, which could directly help them, are missing," explains Sophia Eckert, child rights expert at terre des hommes .
Furthermore, terre des hommes appeals to the German government to take care of the people who have had to flee the Taliban in Afghanistan to neighboring countries. "We are aware of cases involving minors whose admission from Pakistan is being severely delayed. To prevent families from being torn apart or having to live apart for extended periods, the criteria for family reunification must be broadened," says Sophia Eckert.
The children's rights organization terre des hommes advocates worldwide for the rights of refugee children and young people. terre des hommes supports projects by partner organizations aimed at self-organization among refugee minors, providing psychosocial support, and improving their living conditions. In addition terre des hommes works at the political level to enforce the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child with the German Federal Government, the European Union, and the United Nations.