UK AND FRENCH GOVERNMENT AGREEMENT ON CHANNEL CROSSINGS: JOINT STATEMENT FROM UNICEF UK AND UNICEF FRANCE
Responding to confirmation that in a month’s time the Dublin III Regulation, which enables the reunification of separated asylum-seeking family members including children, will no longer apply in the UK due to a new declaration from the UK and French governments, Unicef UK’s Director of Advocacy Joanna Rea said:
“UNICEF is concerned that within this joint declaration from the UK and French governments, no commitment has been made to allow children to safely reunite with family in the UK.
“Only last month, we saw children tragically losing their lives crossing the channel and we know that families continue to flee conflict and persecution, taking perilous journeys in an attempt to reach safety and be reunited with loved ones.
“While we acknowledge the need to fight against the exploitation and trafficking of refugees by criminal gangs, despite these increases in law enforcement, children are still at risk of violence and are denied their rights to protection and family life. We continue to urge both Governments to urgently address this and find a solution that protects children from danger and ensures a safe and legal route for children to enter the UK, if we are to avoid further tragedies.”
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For more information, please contact:
Unicef UK Media Team, 0207 375 6030, [email protected]
About Unicef
Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children. As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK.
For more information please visit unicef.org.uk