{"id":62874,"date":"2023-06-06T15:09:48","date_gmt":"2023-06-06T15:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/?p=62874"},"modified":"2025-12-14T04:39:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T04:39:04","slug":"shortcoming-of-the-belgian-state-towards-refugee-and-migrant-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/shortcoming-of-the-belgian-state-towards-refugee-and-migrant-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Shortcoming of the Belgian State towards refugee and migrant children"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Around the world, many people flee the dangers and the lack of opportunities in their home countries and arrive in European countries looking for a better and safer life. Refugees and migrants reaching <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\"><strong>Belgium<\/strong><\/a><strong> face numerous challenges, including living in detention centers. Because they are placed in detention centres or reception centres, their children are faced with an even more uncertain future. Indeed, most of them do not enjoy the same rights and opportunities every child should be entitled to, such as the ability to be with their <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/family-and-childrensrights\/\"><strong>family<\/strong><\/a><strong>, <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\"><strong>safe<\/strong><\/a><strong>, <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\"><strong>educated<\/strong><\/a><strong> and <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/protection\/\"><strong>protected<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The difference between the status of a refugee, migrant and asylum seeker<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A refugee is a \u201fperson fleeing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/children-in-war\/\">war<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">violence<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/children-in-war\/\">conflicts<\/a> or persecution, and crossing an international border in order to be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">safe<\/a> in another country\u201d (Belgian Federal Public Services of Foreign Affairs, 2022).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A migrant is a<strong> <\/strong>\u201fperson permanently or temporarily moving to another region (in their own country) or to another country. This can be voluntary or out of sheer necessity\u201d (Belgian Federal Public Services of Foreign Affairs, 2022).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An asylum seeker is a \u201fperson seeking asylum in another country, that is to say asking for international <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/protection\/\">protection<\/a> and the right to stay because they are persecuted in their home country\u201d (Belgian Federal Public Services of Foreign Affairs, 2022).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The arrival of refugees and migrants in <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\"><strong>Belgium<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Millions of people who are victims of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">abuse<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">violence<\/a> in their home country are forced to migrate to various European countries in search of a safe haven. For years, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a> has been overwhelmed by refugees and asylum seekers arriving in high numbers (Le Monde, 2022). These people come mainly from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/afghanistan\/\">Afghanistan<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/syria\/\">Syria<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/palestine\/\">Palestine<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/burundi\/\">Burundi<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/guinea\/\">Guinea<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/democratic-republic-congo\/\">Democratic Republic of Congo<\/a> and more recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/ukraine\/\">Ukraine<\/a> (UNICEF, 2018; Le Soir, 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For many people, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a> is the final destination of a perilous journey. In 2021, 165,534 people were reported to have immigrated to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a> (Le Soir, 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The main objective of and difference between detention centres and reception centres<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since the 1980s, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a> has taken significant migration policy measures (Panser la justice, 2019). In this context, detention centres are used by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgian<\/a> law as a form of administrative detention for the undocumented migrants arriving in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a> (Panser la justice, 2019). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These centres were opened in 1998 with a view to \u201fdetaining illegal residents and then expelling them from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgian<\/a> territory\u201d (Panser la justice, 2019). By placing undocumented migrants in detention centres, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a> aimed to prevent them from escaping and ensure that deportation measures would be enforced (Panser la justice, 2019). There are currently six detention centres in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a> (Foreigners\u2019 Office, n.d.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"733\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_1599409930-1024x733.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-62876\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_1599409930-1024x733.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_1599409930-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_1599409930-768x550.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_1599409930-1536x1100.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_1599409930-2048x1466.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_1599409930-830x594.jpg 830w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_1599409930-230x165.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_1599409930-350x251.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_1599409930-480x344.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also ninety reception shelters in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">country.<\/a> The people who are placed there are entitled to \u201fmaterial help and social and medical support, and they can take a training course and engage in other activities\u201d (Federal Agency for the reception of asylum seekers, n.d.). However, these centres do not have enough beds&nbsp; to provide shelter for all the refugees, migrants and asylum seekers setting foot in Belgium, which means that many people and their children have to sleep on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/street-children\/\">streets<\/a> (Le Monde, 2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The fate of refugee and migrant children in <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\"><strong>Belgium<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/displaced-children\/\">Refugee\/migrant<\/a> children arrive in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a> in search of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">safer<\/a> and brighter future, but what awaits them there falls short of their expectations. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a>, these children can be placed in detention centres or shelters, whether they are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/displaced-children\/\">on their own<\/a> or accompanied (UNICEF, 2018; RTBF, 2021).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first challenge they face in these centres is the uncertain and slow regularisation processes (UNICEF, 2018). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/displaced-children\/\">Young refugees<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a> have expressed concern about the aforementioned process, as they do not always understand \u201fthe details of the various processes&nbsp;that concern them\u201d and feel that they \u201flack all the appropriate information\u201d (UNICEF, 2018).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201fGoing to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a> or staying in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/syria\/\">Syria<\/a> was not a matter of choice. There were issues in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/syria\/\">Syria<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">insecurity<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/children-in-war\/\">war<\/a>. Our lives were at risk. We had to escape, have a new life, a future.\u201d <\/p>\n<cite>&#8211; a 17-year-old <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/syria\/\">Syrian<\/a> girl (UNICEF, 2018)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, children can feel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/displaced-children\/\">isolated<\/a> in reception centres, and most of them have expressed their wish to be reunited with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/family-and-childrensrights\/\">family<\/a> they have been taken away from, either during their journey towards <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a> or during border controls (UNICEF, 2018). While waiting to see their family again, these children placed in centres should have a person they trust and who will be able to accompany them during their regularisation process (UNICEF, 2018).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">education<\/a> is still essential, but recreational activities are not on offer for all the children in these centres. The children who have never been schooled before arriving in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a>, those who have not been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">schooled<\/a> on a continuous basis, or those who do not speak French or Dutch are faced with a lack of school opportunities (UNICEF, 2018). Refugee\/migrant children have also expressed their desire to access&nbsp;hobbies outside the centres, which would enable them in particular to integrate into Belgian society and make friends with the locals (UNICEF, 2018).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lastly, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/girls-rights\/\">teenage mothers<\/a> placed in these centres in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a> do not get the increased attention they need (UNICEF, 2018). These mothers cite a lack of independence, food, specific&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/fundamental-rights-2\/health\/\">healthcare<\/a> for their young children, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">safety<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">education<\/a> meeting their needs (UNICEF, 2018).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\"><strong>Belgium<\/strong><\/a><strong> fails to fulfill its <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/international-rules-justice-children-2\/\"><strong>international obligations<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a> ratified the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) in 1955 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1991 (Council of Europe, n.d.; United Nations, n.d.). According to the CRC, in all decisions concerning children, the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration of the State (United Nations, 1990). The ECHR states that everyone has the right to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/fundamental-rights\/freedom\/\">liberty<\/a>, and that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/detained-children\/\">imprisonment<\/a> must remain an exception (Council of Europe and European Court of Human Rights, 1953).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Detention centres were initially created as an exceptional form of administrative detention. However, using these centres seems to have become a standard practice in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a>, \u201fto the point that are becoming a permanent system, set up more and more often\u201d (Panser la justice, 2019). In addition, these detention centres in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a> are similar to prisons, as they are equipped with \u201fdouble&nbsp;rows of fencing, sometimes&nbsp;protected with barbed wire on top, surveillance cameras, guards, the monitoring and controlling of movements, and a set of rules providing for sanctions, such as the use of&nbsp;solitary confinement \u201d (Panser la justice, 2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What is even more serious is the fact that the legal framework pertaining to detention centres enables the detention of children. Between 2018 and 2019, twenty children were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/detained-children\/\">detained<\/a> in these centres because of their migration status (Amnesty International, 2022). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s why, in two recent rulings, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has condemned <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a> for \u201fits serious violations of the rights of the child\u201d (Amnesty International, 2022). Although this legal framework was suspended by the&nbsp;Council of State in 2021 in Belgium , <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgian<\/a> legislation still allows <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/detained-children\/\">the detention of refugee\/migrant children <\/a>in detention centres (Amnesty International, 2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The justice system repressive towards refugees and migrants in <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\"><strong>Belgium<\/strong><\/a><strong> must end&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgian<\/a> State must immediately implement the following five measures: it must speed up the regularisation processes and asylum applications to avoid placing children in centres for an undetermined period of time; amend its legislation so as to not allow the keeping of children in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/detained-children\/\">detention centers<\/a>; accelerate the procedures enabling isolated refugee\/migrant children to be reunited with their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/family-and-childrensrights\/\">families<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/belgium\/\">Belgium<\/a>; provide a sufficient number of available beds for refugees and migrants in reception centres so that they do not end up in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/street-children\/\">streets<\/a><strong>;<\/strong> and ensure that every refugee\/migrant child can benefit from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/protection\/\">protective<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">safe<\/a> environment, appropriate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/fundamental-rights-2\/health\/\">health care services<\/a> and access to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">education<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_2054337494-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-62875\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_2054337494-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_2054337494-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_2054337494-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_2054337494-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_2054337494-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_2054337494-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_2054337494-230x153.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_2054337494-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_2054337494-480x320.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_2054337494-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Humanium condemns this legal system allowing the detention of refugee and migrant children in detention centers. Humanium strives to create a world where children\u2019s rights to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/protection\/\">protection<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">education<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/fundamental-rights-2\/health\/\">health<\/a> are always respected. If you want to contribute to Humanium\u2019s cause, please consider making a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/donation\/\">donation<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/participate\/volunteer\/\">volunteering<\/a> or becoming a member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Written by Mo\u00efra Phu\u00f6ng Van de Po\u00ebl<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Translated by Catheline Hannier<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Proofread by Alex Macpherson<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Bibliography:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Agence F\u00e9d\u00e9rale pour l&#8217;accueil des demandeurs d&#8217;asile. (n.d.). Les centres d&#8217;accueil. Extrait de l\u2019Agence F\u00e9d\u00e9rale pour l&#8217;accueil des demandeurs d\u2019asile \u00e0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fedasil.be\/fr\/les-centres-daccueil\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.fedasil.be\/fr\/les-centres-daccueil<\/a>, consult\u00e9 en Avril 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Amnesty International. (2022, Mars 7). La Belgique condamn\u00e9e pour avoir d\u00e9t\u00e9nu des enfants migrants. Extrait d\u2019Amnesty International \u00e0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.be\/infos\/actualites\/article\/belgique-condamnee-detenu-enfants-migrants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.amnesty.be\/infos\/actualites\/article\/belgique-condamnee-detenu-enfants-migrants<\/a>, consult\u00e9 en Avril 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Conseil d&#8217;Europe et Cour Europ\u00e9enne des Droits de l&#8217;Homme. (1953, Septembre 3). Convention europ\u00e9enne des droits de l\u2019Homme<em>.<\/em> Extrait du Conseil d&#8217;Europe et Cour Europ\u00e9enne des Droits de l&#8217;Homme \u00e0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.echr.coe.int\/documents\/convention_fra.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.echr.coe.int\/documents\/convention_fra.pdf<\/a>, consult\u00e9 en Avril 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Conseil de l&#8217;Europe. (n.d.). La Belgique et la Cour Europ\u00e9enne des Droits de l&#8217;Homme. Extrait du Conseil de l\u2019Europe \u00e0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.coe.int\/fr\/web\/portal\/belgianchairmanship-echr#:~:text=La%2520Cour%2520europ%25C3%25A9enne%2520des%2520droits%2520de%2520l'homme%2520est%2520l,ratifi%25C3%25A9%2520ce%2520trait%25C3%25A9%2520en%25201955\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.coe.int\/fr\/web\/portal\/belgianchairmanship-echr#:~:text=La%20Cour%20europ%C3%A9enne%20des%20droits%20de%20l&#8217;homme%20est%20l,ratifi%C3%A9%20ce%20trait%C3%A9%20en%201955<\/a>, consult\u00e9 en Avril 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Le Monde. (2022, Janvier 3). En Belgique, l\u2019accueil des demandeurs d\u2019asile arrive \u00e0 saturation. Extrait Le Monde \u00e0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lemonde.fr\/international\/article\/2022\/01\/03\/en-belgique-l-accueil-des-demandeurs-d-asile-arrive-a-saturation_6107996_3210.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.lemonde.fr\/international\/article\/2022\/01\/03\/en-belgique-l-accueil-des-demandeurs-d-asile-arrive-a-saturation_6107996_3210.html<\/a>, consult\u00e9 en Avril 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Le Monde. (2022, Octobre 28). La Belgique d\u00e9bord\u00e9e par des arriv\u00e9es de demandeurs d\u2019asile. Extrait Le Monde \u00e0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lemonde.fr\/international\/article\/2022\/10\/28\/la-belgique-debordee-par-un-nouvel-afflux-de-demandeurs-d-asile_6147706_3210.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.lemonde.fr\/international\/article\/2022\/10\/28\/la-belgique-debordee-par-un-nouvel-afflux-de-demandeurs-d-asile_6147706_3210.html<\/a>, consult\u00e9 en Avril 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Le Soir. (2023, Janvier 18). Asile: qui sont les 100.000 migrants arriv\u00e9s en Belgique en 2022? Extrait Le Soir \u00e0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lesoir.be\/489701\/article\/2023-01-18\/asile-qui-sont-les-100000-migrants-arrives-en-belgique-en-2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.lesoir.be\/489701\/article\/2023-01-18\/asile-qui-sont-les-100000-migrants-arrives-en-belgique-en-2022<\/a>, consult\u00e9 en Avril 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Le Soir. (2023, Mars 10). Migration en Belgique: quelles nationalit\u00e9s et quelles raisons ? Extrait Le Soir \u00e0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.levif.be\/belgique\/migration-en-belgique-quelles-nationalites-et-quelles-raisons\/#:~:text=Ainsi%252C%2520en%25202021%252C%2520165%2520534,int%25C3%25A9rieur%2520des%2520fronti%25C3%25A8res%2520du%2520royaume\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.levif.be\/belgique\/migration-en-belgique-quelles-nationalites-et-quelles-raisons\/#:~:text=Ainsi%2C%20en%202021%2C%20165%20534,int%C3%A9rieur%20des%20fronti%C3%A8res%20du%20royaume<\/a>, consult\u00e9 en Avril 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Nations Unies. (n.d.). Collection de Trait\u00e9s &#8211; D\u00e9positaire. Extrait des Nations Unies \u00e0 <a href=\"https:\/\/treaties.un.org\/pages\/ViewDetails.aspx?src=IND&amp;mtdsg_no=IV-11&amp;chapter=4&amp;clang=_fr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/treaties.un.org\/pages\/ViewDetails.aspx?src=IND&amp;mtdsg_no=IV-11&amp;chapter=4&amp;clang=_fr<\/a>, consult\u00e9 en Avril 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Nations Unies. (1990, Septembre 2). Convention relative aux droits de l&#8217;enfant<em>.<\/em> Extrait des Nations Unies \u00e0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/fr\/instruments-mechanisms\/instruments\/convention-rights-child\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/fr\/instruments-mechanisms\/instruments\/convention-rights-child<\/a>, consult\u00e9 en Avril 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Office des \u00e9trangers. (n.d.). Les 6 centres ferm\u00e9s. Extrait de l\u2019Office des \u00e9trangers \u00e0 <a href=\"https:\/\/dofi.ibz.be\/fr\/themes\/irregular-stay\/detention\/les-6-centres-fermes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/dofi.ibz.be\/fr\/themes\/irregular-stay\/detention\/les-6-centres-fermes<\/a>, consult\u00e9 en Avril 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Panser la justice. (2019). Centres ferm\u00e9s : une justice r\u00e9pressive envers les migrants. Extrait de Panser la justice \u00e0 <a href=\"https:\/\/journalisme.ulb.ac.be\/projets\/panserlajustice\/centres-fermes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/journalisme.ulb.ac.be\/projets\/panserlajustice\/centres-fermes\/<\/a>, consult\u00e9 en Avril 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">RTBF. (2021, Ao\u00fbt 10). D\u00e9tention des mineurs en centres ferm\u00e9s : &#8220;Ce gouvernement ne le fera pas, il faut une politique de retour qui soit humaine&#8221;, estime Sammy Mahdi. Extrait de la RTBF \u00e0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rtbf.be\/article\/detention-des-mineurs-en-centres-fermes-ce-gouvernement-ne-le-fera-pas-il-faut-une-politique-de-retour-qui-soit-humaine-estime-sammy-mahdi-10821541\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.rtbf.be\/article\/detention-des-mineurs-en-centres-fermes-ce-gouvernement-ne-le-fera-pas-il-faut-une-politique-de-retour-qui-soit-humaine-estime-sammy-mahdi-10821541<\/a>, consult\u00e9 en Avril 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">SPF Affaires \u00e9trang\u00e8res. (2022, Mars 1). La Belgique fait de la migration un ph\u00e9nom\u00e8ne positif. Extrait du Service Public F\u00e9d\u00e9ral des Affaires \u00e9trang\u00e8res, Commerce ext\u00e9rieur et coop\u00e9ration au D\u00e9veloppement \u00e0 <a href=\"https:\/\/diplomatie.belgium.be\/fr\/politique\/themes-politiques\/sous-la-loupe\/la-belgique-fait-de-la-migration-un-phenomene-positif\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/diplomatie.belgium.be\/fr\/politique\/themes-politiques\/sous-la-loupe\/la-belgique-fait-de-la-migration-un-phenomene-positif<\/a>, consult\u00e9 en Avril 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">UNICEF. (2018). Les enfants migrants et r\u00e9fugi\u00e9s en Belgique prennent la parole<em>.<\/em> Extrait d\u2019UNICEF \u00e0 https:\/\/www.unicef.be\/sites\/default\/files\/2020-09\/Les%20enfants%20migrants%20et%20r%C3%A9fugies%20en%20Belgique%20prennent%20la%20parole.pdf, consult\u00e9 en Avril 2023.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Around the world, many people flee the dangers and the lack of opportunities in their home countries and arrive in European countries looking for a better and safer life. Refugees and migrants reaching Belgium face numerous challenges, including living in detention centers. Because they are placed in detention centres or reception centres, their children are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":62882,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[152,11,167,143],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-childrens-rights","category-human-rights-programmes","category-migration","category-refugees"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Shortcoming of the Belgian State towards refugee and migrant children - Humanium<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Refugees and migrants reaching Belgium face numerous challenges, including those living in detention centers.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/shortcoming-of-the-belgian-state-towards-refugee-and-migrant-children\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Shortcoming of the Belgian State towards refugee and migrant children - 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