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2d ago

UNICEF France Urges End to Prosecuting Exploited Unaccompanied Minors

It demands a non-prosecution policy alongside a unified data system to transform the treatment of minors coerced by trafficking rings.

Les jeunes exilées en recours de minorité manifestent leurs droits scolaires sur le parvis des Droits-de-l’Homme, le 1er septembre 2022.
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Overview

  • The report published July 30 finds that 92% of child victims identified by specialized associations are unaccompanied minors forced into criminal activities.
  • Data from Miprof cited by UNICEF shows 81% of these children come from Algeria and Morocco and 19% from Romania and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
  • Unaccompanied minors encounter language barriers, lack awareness of their rights and struggle to access social services, leaving 36% still under exploiter control when first contacted by NGOs.
  • Despite a December 2023 government announcement on cross-agency data sharing among justice, child protection, health, immigration, education and law enforcement, no system has been implemented.
  • Among 75 recommendations, UNICEF calls for enshrining a non-sanction principle for exploited minors and bolstering socio-educational support instead of pursuing punitive measures.