Ceuta: 400 migrant children remain without protection
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Yabiladi
Around 400 unaccompanied migrant children aged 13 to 17 are reportedly still without protection in Ceuta, with 150 to 200 sleeping on the streets or in precarious places. Five NGOs have asked the Spanish prosecutor’s office to investigate their care, according to their report.
Five non-governmental organisations have approached the Spanish State Prosecutor General’s Office, the Ceuta juvenile prosecutor’s office, several ministries, the local government and the Ombudsman over the protection of unaccompanied migrant children, according to Yabiladi. They are calling for an investigation into compliance with protection obligations following the influx of migrants at the end of July.
The report says 150 to 200 young people sleep on the streets, while others are housed in garages, halls, warehouses or precarious facilities. The NGOs, including Fondation Raíces, Elín, No Name Kitchen, Mission Lifeline International and the Platform for Children, also raise concerns about overcrowding in centres and the use of industrial warehouses and tents.
The organisations report testimonies from girls alleging violence in some centres, as well as suspicions of sexual exploitation and allegations of mistreatment involving Spanish military personnel or the national police. They are calling on Ceuta’s local government and the central government to strengthen the identification of minors, increase the staff assigned to this task and reinforce the system for transferring them to other Spanish regions, according to Yabiladi.
