To the World Refugee Day and Prime Minister Conference on June 20,
sad highest level: 47 million children and adolescents worldwide on the run !
19.06.2024-According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), 120 million people are currently fleeing worldwide, including 47 million children and adolescents. "This is a sad maximum," explains Joshua Hofert, board spokesman for the child rights organization Terre des Hommes. »Fleed children need protection, but instead experience forcoism and abuse at many external borders of the European Union. They flee from war, violence, environmental destruction and lack of perspective. We must never forget: Each of these children has a name, fate and above all the right to find protection. It is our humanitarian responsibility to offer these children a future. "
On the occasion of the conference of the Prime Minister (MPK) with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the occasion of the World Refugee Day, Terre des Hommes warns of the current considerations of outsourcing asylum procedures in third countries. "The idea of outsourcing asylum procedures, which is also advised on the MPK, is highly problematic from a child law perspective," says Joshua Hofert. »These children often flee due to bad children's rights violations such as forced recruitment, children's marriage or persecution. After an often very stressful escape, they have to be protected instead of being pushed into another state where new children's rights violations threaten them. «In a common open letter, Terre des Hommes therefore calls on over 300 other organizations on the occasion of the MPK Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the Prime Minister to provide the plans to outlaw asylum procedures and instead to make civil society strong for a future -proof admission to those seeking protection in Germany.
"We have been seeing a terrible humanitarian situation for refugee children and young people in our projects at the EU external borders for years," said Joshua Hofert. »This is also a result of previous attempts to outsource refugee protection, for example as a result of the EU declaration of the EU. Refugee young people in our projects tell us how they or their accompanying persons are severely abused or taken in custody. It must not be that the already hardly existing refugee protection is also being outsourced to countries in which human rights standards may not play a role at all. Previous attempts show that they lead to more suffering among those affected and human rights violations, do not work and are extremely expensive. We therefore appeal to the Federal Chancellor and the Prime Minister to find real solutions that protect the right-wing children in Germany and at the EU external borders. A sustainable society needs diversity, openness and consistent standing for human rights for everyone, ”said Hofert.
The children's rights organization Terre des Hommes is committed to the rights of refugee children and young people worldwide. Terre des Hommes supports projects from partner organizations for self -organization for self -organization for minors, psychosocial care or to improve their accommodation situation. In addition, Terre des Hommes is committed to enforcing the requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Children on the political level towards the Federal Government, European Union and United Nations.
Further information:
- Action side Children's rights on the EU's outer border including a study "Before Walls and Behind Grids" On the situation at the European external borders, video statements with stories of young refugees and action guidelines for organizing events on the subject: Children on the flight: Children's rights at the EU external borders (TDH.de)