The humanitarian organization advocates for prioritizing the protection, dignity, human rights, family reunification, and successful integration of these vulnerable children.
As part of the campaign, child advocates staged a demonstration in front of the Council of the EU headquarters, which houses the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council. This preceded a "Jumbo Trilogue" on the key legislative files of the Pact scheduled for December 7.
The campaign involves bicycles with banners cycling around the negotiation venue and digital displays near the Council headquarters, serving as a visual reminder of the situation faced by children on the move. Messages convey the harsh reality that children "should be skipping ropes, not borders," suggesting the possibility of an alternative, compassionate approach.
Recent data indicates that one in four individuals arriving in Europe are children escaping conflict, persecution, famine, forced marriages, or extreme poverty. Save the Children's research in the Balkans highlights instances of brutality against children by border police and smugglers, including reports of harsh conditions, electric shocks, and severe beatings resulting in serious physical injuries.
Aazar*, a 14-year-old from Afghanistan, shared his experience: "The police in Greece were very angry, they hit us...Croatian police shone flashlights in our eyes, then in front of your eyes [everything] was black."
Willy Bergogné, Save the Children Europe Director, emphasized the significance of decisions European leaders are making this week in Brussels, stating, "Nothing can justify a child dying or being mistreated." Bergogné called for the EU to use the Migration Pact to address its asylum system and ensure the safety, protection, and family unity of all children arriving in Europe.
Statistics underscore the challenges faced by child migrants, with 3,300 unaccompanied or separated children arriving in the first three months of 2023, comprising 71% of all arrivals. Since January 2023, 11,600 children, averaging 428 per week, have arrived on the shores of Italy from North Africa—a twofold increase compared to the same period in 2022.
Save the Children's campaign aims to draw attention to the situation of migrant children and encourage EU leaders to consider humane and compassionate solutions. As discussions on the Migration and Asylum Pact progress, the fate of these children remains a focal point, prompting calls for a balanced and thoughtful approach to address the complex challenges posed by migration.
