In France, for the first time, an investigation published this Wednesday was carried out on the fate of young migrants whose minority has not been recognized and who have taken legal action. Around fifty associations brought together their data to establish a map at the moment. Of nearly 3,500 people in a situation of recourse, almost two thirds do not have an accommodation solution. To denounce this situation, nearly 250 people occupied the Maison des Métallos, a theater in the city of Paris.
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Since Saturday, to denounce their situation, nearly 250 migrants have occupied the Maison des Métallos, a theater in the city of Paris who announced that he had to “ cancel all programming “. Every morning, Kourouma joins his fellow fighters at the Steelworkers’ house. This Guinean, who says he is 16 years old, finds comfort here: “ Associations welcome us with food and clothing. We are good here »he told RFI.
Like many other occupants of the theater, Kourouma was not recognized as a minor. He therefore took legal action. He has been living for several weeks in a gymnasium, which he shares with Foussini. For this Malian, who also experienced the streets, the situation cannot last. He claims to have to spend the day wandering, “ forced to leave the gym at 8:30 in the morning “. “ The gymnasium is not ideal because there are around 150 young people and the infrastructure is not made for that. “, he says.
The prefecture has warned them that the gymnasiums will be evacuated by next Tuesday. Temporary accommodation in the provinces will be offered to them. But Kourouma, for example, refuses to leave Paris. He is banking everything on his appeal, a process started in Paris.
Read alsoUnaccompanied minors: failure to assist a person in danger?
More than a third of minors resort to the street
In 2023, nearly 67,000 young foreigners presented themselves as unaccompanied minors, therefore under 18 years old, without a legal guardian. After assessment, 23% were recognized as minors and are in fact under the protection of the French state and supported by child welfare.
But for those whose minority has not been recognized, an appeal to a judge is possible. Few do it due to lack of information. This may take several weeks or even months. According to one investigation carried out by the National Coordination of young exiles in danger (CNJED) with around a hundred associations and collectives active in 83 departments, “ at least 3,477 young unaccompanied foreigners » would be in the process of having their minority recognized. And among them, more than a third of the minors on appeal, in March, were on the street, without any housing solution.
Almost as many were hosted by associations or citizens. And less than a third were housed by institutions such as gymnasiums or emergency accommodation centers. Yet, ” in accordance with international law, all these young people should benefit from the protection granted to minors and be taken care of by child welfare while awaiting a judge’s decision », notes the CNJED in a press release.
In January 2023, the France was sanctioned by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child for its failure to ensure the protection of these minors during the appeal period. In 60% of cases, these appeals result in recognition of the minority by a judge.
“The 7th municipal building occupied” since December
The City of Paris indicates in a press release that, since December, it is “ the 7th time that a municipal building has been occupied in this way, due to lack of State intervention » and recalls that the management of emergency accommodation and the regularization of these people is not within its competence.
According to the town hall, 450 people live in municipal places that it manages. “ All our gyms are full, we no longer have places », Underlined to AFP Léa Filoche, deputy for Solidarity at the town hall.
A proposal for orientation towards the regional airlocks was made to their occupants, but “ this will undoubtedly not suit the majority of them who will have to abandon their appeal for minority recognition in Paris », explains the Revers de la Medal, a collective bringing together some 80 associations and NGOs.
Associations have been denouncing for several months a “ social cleansing » of the Paris region, gradually emptied according to them of its most precarious populations living on the streets, with a view to the 2024 Olympic Games. The authorities argue for their part that 120,000 people are sheltered every night under the emergency in Ile-de-France.