One
particularly large group is that of unaccompanied minors, who are detained
alongside adults for lengthy periods of time, sometimes even when recorded as
minors. During MSF’s responses in 2013-14, the
teams
identified more than 100 young people who were most probably minors wrongly
registered as
adults.
Several had documentation from their country of origin proving their age,
although this had been
disregarded
by the police. Some said they had initially concealed their real age, thinking
that they would be
released
sooner if they claimed to be adults; others had no idea that the police had
registered them as
adults.
Introducing
a vulnerability assessment system – in particular an age assessment procedure
for people with the appearance of minors – during the apprehension and
detention process, and sensitising
police
officers are both urgently needed. (Such a process was introduced recently in
the ‘first reception’
system.
The current
practice of the police is to refer people claiming to be minors – in many cases
after long
delays – to
local health facilities. However, the absence of a protocol and of medical
staff with the
right
training and expertise renders this process highly problematic. In MSF’s
experience, few of the
young
people referred for an age assessment by the police – after having already
spent several months in
detention –
were declared minors. Most continued to be detained, even though many received
inconclusive medical assessments (for example that their likely ‘bone age’ was
found to be 18 years). In no case was the margin of error (ranging from two to
five years, depending on the method of medical examination used) taken into
account by the police,nor was the benefit of the doubt considered in favor of
the minor.
This
practice leads to children being held in detention, with serious consequences
for their health and
wellbeing.“Some
months ago I asked to be released, because I am a minor. Many people who are
older than me have already been released. I asked many times, but they always
refused. I got extremely anxious
and was
thinking about my family, who I don’t have any information about. Since they
didn’t
want to
release me, I thought it was better for me to jump off the roof than to stay
here. I broke my
legs. I was
taken to the hospital and then back to Komotini detention centre. I was living
with pain
on my bed
for two months. Now I still have pain in my legs and, when I eat, my teeth are
hurting
because I
hit them against a wall when I jumped.”
16-year-old
boy, six months in detention “When the police arrested me, I told them that I am
16 years old, that I am young and I am afraid and feel very bad. I have been in
detention now for nine months. Since I arrived in Greece I have gone through
and seen incredible things – I cannot believe I have gone through these things.
I try to drive out the bad images. I try to suppress these images and thoughts
and this effort makes me sick. Many nights I have nightmares. I would very much
like you to read my story and to think about how a child of my age, without
having done any sin, any crime, can be kept in prison for so long.
I do not
know what is to blame: fate, my country, police officers? I wish no one would
ever be in this
position.
Please think of us.”
16-year-old
boy, nine months in detentionMSF has raised concerns with the responsible
authorities
over the indifference of a system that results in minors – who are not recognised
as such
– being
held in detention for lenghty periods of time.
However,
the authorities have yet to respond with actions to prevent unaccompanied
minors from being
detained
and to ensure their access to safe shelter, education and protection. invisible suffering report
