UN child rights committee lauds Swiss asylum offer to Kurdish family — Global Issues
“We welcome Switzerland’s prompt action Ann Skelton, a member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), said the suspension of the return of children to Bulgaria was in line with the Commission’s request for interim measures.
“We also welcome the decision to reassess the plight of these children and the risk that they will face cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment if sent back to Bulgaria, demonstrate the country’s commitment to compliance and cooperation with the CommissionShe added.
Fleeing the war ravaging Syria
The children, now between 10 and 14 years old, were born to a young mother, a victim of sexual violence forced into marriage at the age of 11 and gave birth to their first child at the age of 14. Fleeing war-torn Syria in early 2017, the family moved to Bulgaria, which granted parents and children refugee and refugee status.
violent father
Deportation from the refugee camp and the father’s extremely violent behavior led the mother and her children to beg in the streets, and three months later she applied for asylum in Germany, where she was granted asylum. her protective measures in 2019.
Afraid of her husband, she once again took her children to Switzerland to seek asylum but failed.
Following the order of the Swiss State Migration Secretariat in August 2020 to deport the family to Bulgaria and the appeal rejected against that decision, the mother and the children petitioned to the United Nations Commission on the Rights of the Child.
Members requested the Swiss authorities to adopt temporary measures to suspend the expulsion pending the review of the complaint, in accordance with a Optional protocol arrive Convention on the Rights of the Child.
More asylum cases reopened
Swiss authorities later reopened the cases of the children and their mothers, recognizing them as refugees. Following that action, the Commission issued a decision Thursday suspended examination of family complaints.
“This is the fifth case in which Switzerland immediately reopened the asylum procedure after registering the cases with the Commission and issuing residence permits to the children after reassessing their situation,” said Ms Skelton. “This shows the potential of the grievance mechanism in providing immediate relief to children.”