UNICEF UK response to growing pressure to support unaccompanied child refugees in Europe
Responding to recent increased pressure on the Government to support unaccompanied child refugees in Europe, Lily Caprani, Deputy Executive Director at Unicef UK said:
“Right now, there are hundreds of lone refugee children in Europe who have families here in the UK. Every day these children are in Europe they are left unprotected and vulnerable to exploitation, harm and abuse.
“UNICEF is calling on the Government to take immediate action to protect unaccompanied children at risk in Europe. The Government must use this opportunity to beef up and accelerate the existing processes that allow child refugees to be reunited with their families. It’s taking too long for children to reach their families under the current rules.
“Any decisions to resettle children must be done with a clear understanding of their best interests. But it’s clear that more needs to be done, both here and in and Europe, to ensure these children are getting access to their legal right to be with their families and have their cases expedited.”
