Human Rights Watch publishes a damning report on the care of foreign minors in Marseille. The non-governmental organization denounces arbitrary age assessments, which deprive them of their rights to housing, health and education.
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Children who sleep on the streets for days, even weeks, suffering from tuberculosis, HIV, post-traumatic stress or undetected pregnancies: this is what the damning report from Human Rights Watch published on January 30, 2024.
“ Right now it’s so cold… Sleeping outside is not easy at all…”, testifies on the microphone of a young person who is now housed in a squat. But the conditions remain basic, says another boy. “ We don’t have any clothes, shoes…”
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The organization denounces the failure to take care of unaccompanied minors who arrive in Marseille. In focus, the evaluations carried out by the department to determine the age of young people which the report considers arbitrary.
This other boy was denied his status as a child, for reasons he does not understand. “ It says there that I looked at the lady and that I stared straight into the lady’s eyes and that that’s not the behavior of a minor… And so, I didn’t know what to say… That’s it, and This is the full copy of my birth certificate that I gave him that day “.
One in two children are initially refused recognition of their minority according to the organization, losing access to health, education or housing. Then nearly 75% of those who appeal are ultimately recognized as minors.
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