Thousands of immigrant children in Greece may be living on the streets or in places unknown, with only 397 being recorded staying in shelters, according to Giorgos Moschos, the Ombudsman for Children’s Rights in Greece.
On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March 21, Moschos described what difficulties unaccompanied children from foreign countries face in Greece.
He said they have to stay in detention centers for unspecified period where they sleep on cement beds. Athens First Instance Court Prosecutor Ilias Zagoreos listed the dangers immigrant children are exposed to: exploitation, abuse, trading of minors, illegal labor and human trafficking.
He said some of the main reasons they come to Greece is to flee war, poverty and their parents death, leaving them as orphans. “In order to protect the unaccompanied children, it is of immense importance to provide with food home and education” said Sophia Tzoumerkioti, Athens Court of Appeals Judge.
greece.greekreporter.com
