NI Children's Commissioner expresses 'deep concern' over refugees decision

Calls were made today for Northern Ireland to accept more lone child refugees

Children's Commissioner here, Koulla Yiasouma joined with her counterparts across the UK, in urging the Government to reconsider plans to close a child refugee scheme early.

Mrs Yiasouma said Northern Ireland was the ideal location to meet all of their needs.

The four children's commissioners have written to Home Secretary Amber Rudd urging her to rethink the plan.

They tell of their deep concern'' at the decision and urge Ms Rudd toconsider carefully the plight of the many thousands of lone child refugees in Europe who are currently at risk of exploitation and trafficking''.

They add: The Government made a welcome commitment through the scheme to taking some of the most vulnerable lone child refugees who are rootless in Europe.

The letter is signed by Koulla Yiasouma, Children's Commissioner for Northern Ireland and Anne Longfield, Tam Baillie and Sally Holland - her counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales respectively.

On Thursday Ms Yiasouma said: “The UK Government’s recent announcement to limit the Dubs scheme is an unacceptable step back. The Government made a welcome commitment through the scheme to taking some of the most vulnerable lone child refugees, who are rootless in Europe and at risk of exploitation and trafficking. The current number of children brought to the UK under the scheme falls significantly short of expectations, and means that we will not be playing our part to resolve the crisis that these children face in Europe, especially in Greece and Italy.

“As a signatory of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UK has a vital role to play in offering protection and security to lone child refugees across Europe. I call on the Government to act humanely and responsibly, and to maintain a positive commitment to the Dubs scheme, within a comprehensive strategy to safeguard unaccompanied child refugees within Europe.

“During this time of political uncertainty, Northern Ireland cannot be found wanting in offering sanctuary to children, who through no fault of their own, find themselves in terrifying situations."

Koulla Yiasouma added "When talking to children here, they have made it clear to me, that Northern Ireland must not lose our compassion for others."

Yvette Cooper, Labour MP and chairwoman of the influential Home Affairs Select Committee, welcomed the intervention.

She said: This is a very serious response from the children's commissioners. They make clear that far from avoiding traffickers, by ditching the Dubs scheme, the Government risks pushing more children back into the arms of smuggler gangs.

The Government should listen to this call from the commissioners whose very purpose is to protect the welfare of vulnerable children and reopen the Dubs scheme now.''

Ms Rudd has said the scheme is closing amid fears it is backfiring and encouraging child refugees to put their lives in the hands of people traffickers and make the perilous journey to Europe. But critics say the opposite is true and ministers are leaving vulnerable children languishing in refugee camps at the mercy of traffickers.

A legal challenge against ending the scheme is expected to reach the High Court in May.

A Government spokeswoman said: Our commitment to resettle 350 unaccompanied children from Europe is just one way we are helping.

We have also committed to resettle up to 3,000 vulnerable children and family members from the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region and 20,000 Syrians by the end of this Parliament.

We have a proud history of offering protection to those who need it and children will continue to arrive in the UK from around the world through our other resettlement schemes and asylum system.

The Government has significantly increased the funding it provides to local authorities who look after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

It's vital that we get the balance right between enabling eligible children to come to the UK as quickly as possible and ensuring local authorities have capacity to host them and provide them with the support they will need.''

• Children
• refugees
• childrens commissioner