Dragi Zmijanac No Refugee Children Should Be Allowed to Transit Unaccompanied by a Parent or Guardian

8/19/2019 Dragi Zmijanac No Refugee Children Should Be Allowed to Transit Unaccompanied by a Parent or Guardian

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Dragi Zmijanac No refugee chi ldren sho uld be a l lowed to t rans i t un accom panied

by a parent or gu ardian

In 2015, more than one million refugees and migrants crossed the Mediterranean,

arriving on the shores of Europe, of which it has been estimated that around 253,700 -or one in four - were children. UNICEF states that the issue is getting more critical,

because the number of children among refugees and migrants - now more than one

child in three adults - continues to grow. According to national sources, in Macedonia,

this ratio was 37 percent in December, compared to 23 percent in September, while in

Serbia, in December, 36 percent were children compared to 27 percent in September.

In the last three months, the number of migrant children has increased continuously. On

this topic, we are talking to Professor Dragi Zmijanac, Director & Co-Founder of the FirstChildren's Embassy in the World- Megjashi.

TEXT.MK: According to UNICEF, more than a third of those who are trying to

reach a certain Greek island out of Turkey are children. The report says that for

the first time since the migrant crisis in Europe, there were more women and


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Children are suffering on the migrant route, at the same time different humanitarian and

civil society organizations are constantly warning about the desperate situation these

children are faced with. If we do not respond to this humanitarian disaster, we will not

have any possibility of further exculpation from liability.

What we, as the First Children Embassy in the World mostly appeal to, is the mobility

and commitment of the States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as

they must not allow children to be exposed to the risk of being abused or separated

from their families.

TEXT.MK: It has been noted in the report from Interpol that more than 10,000

children have disappeared since the beginning of the migrant crisis. Do you have

any information about any missing children on the territory of the Republic ofMacedonia?

ZMIJANAC: We have no specific figures or insight into the situation in Macedonia, but

we think that the situation is worrying. It takes more detailed and more adequate

recording of children traveling in each country, where the refugee route passes through.

The disappearance of more than 10,000 refugee children traveling unaccompanied by a

parent or guardian in European countries is a devastating fact, not only for the

weakness and disorganization of the security system and the safety which should be

guaranteed to the refugee children passing through the migrant route, but also for the

insufficient organization and unwillingness of countries to adequately and entirely assist

them. How else can we interpret the fact that there are 1000 missing or abducted

refugee children in Sweden alone, 5000 children in Germany and another 5000 in Italy?

How many thousands of children are abducted and missing in other countries of the

European Union?!

What really astounded us is not only the fact issued by Europol, but also how is it

possible for the criminal structures that exist in the Western European countries to be

incorporated in the security system? The security system proved to be fragile and

compromised, allowing criminals to abduct, kidnap, deal with child trafficking, children's

organs, sex tourism, child prostitution, child pornography, illegal adoption, child abuse


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and to exploit their labor in giant factories in the textile industry. Smuggling of refugee

children is performed well by organized structures that are internationally linked, and

this difficult challenge must be faced by countries that mutually work together in order to

exchange information and disrupt organized kidnapping, abduction and abuse of

refugee children.

States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child should provide safety and

assure refugee children that after landing on European soil they will be guaranteed their

safety and security, and that they will be safe and protected not only while in transit, but

also on their way to their final destination.

There is no calculation with the fate of children. There should not be questioning on any

grounds whether they are migrant children or refugees, whether they are childrenfleeing from war or economic migrants. Simply put, children are children, and above all,

children must be a priority for every country, ensuring their safety and security. The best

way to help them is by finding their missing parents and not allowing children to travel

unaccompanied.

TEXT.MK: Europe is experiencing its worst crisis in decades, and Macedonia

inadvertently "entered" into the center of the crisis. Hundreds of refugee children

sit at the border with Greece for days and wait in unbearable conditions to

continue the road to the West. Do you have a team that stays daily in the refugee

shelters and is in direct contact with the refugee children?

ZMIJANAC: We don't have a team that is daily on the field, but we have gone out many

times and worked for various activities. We try as often as possible to meet the

demanding needs of the people. We plan to send a team soon, which will work

constantly or at least regularly in the field. Namely, we have signed a Memorandum of

cooperation in implementation of activities with the SOS Children's Village – Macedonia,

related to the assistance and support of refugee children from Syria and other areas

affected by the war, found on the territory of Macedonia. We are trying to help create

conditions for a timely and efficient implementation of outreach activities for help and

support of refugee children from Syria and other areas affected by military conflict. Apart


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from the recent activities in the transit center "Tabanovce", there is an ongoing

preparation for providing psychosocial support for the children in this transit center,

where the staff from Megjashi will respect the protocol and principles of working in a

children friendly area. For direct assistance to the refugee children, Megjashi plans to

purchase 25 humanitarian packages (shoes, clothing) intended for unaccompanied

refugee children from Syria. We know that this is too little for their current needs, but

every help is welcome.

TEXT.MK: If you have contact with the refugee children, what are their urgent

needs, if not, why aren't you present in the field?

ZMIJANAC: Needs in the field are changing according to different influences, at first the

problems were related to security and lack of basic supplies like food and water, nowthe problems are associated with impassability of the refugee route, the conditions in

which the refugees are waiting, and weather conditions. At the same time we try not to

forget that children are children and have a need to play, so we are working in that

direction as much as we can. Back in April last year we demanded that refugee children

are treated in a manner that will ensure their best interests. We forewarned that all

actions related to the refugee children taken by Republic of Macedonia must represent

the child’s best interests.

Macedonia must guarantee that best interests of refugee children will be respected and

that they will be provided with special protection and care. We have referred to Article 2

of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and required from the State to take care of

the needs of refugee children, and to provide adequate psychotherapeutic care for

children who have suffered from emotional or physical trauma in particular. A key role of

the State as then and now is to ensure an effective transiting system for migrants in

Macedonia, especially refugee children, to secure their movement and transit throughthe territory of the Republic of Macedonia. In that period of time, we vigilantly observed

the situation with the transit, but the transit centers in Gevgelija and Tabanovce were

not opened yet at that time. On the International Day of Refugees we reminded the

public that millions of children flee to other countries as victims of war. Almost never in

history have been children so exposed to such brutality as it has been done in the


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down on the rails in Idomeni. Macedonia must open its borders for the refugee children.

However, the European Union and other international organizations for assistance and

support to migrant children should take over their part of the obligations more actively,

in a solidary and humane fashion. Generally, all countries in Europe failed in dealing

with the refugee crisis. With entering into Greece as a first, they have already entered

the EU; therefore all efforts that are put into assisting Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, are

directly related to dealing with the refugee crisis and security at the entrance to

European soil. By closing the borders, we are closing the option of helping these

victimized children affected by war. Europe has failed the test of humanity, solidarity

and help in the hardest moments. These actions, such as closing the borders are just

enhancing the ordeal of these victims, with mostly refugee children being affected by

them. Although European countries are signatories (States parties) to manyconventions and ratified documents pertaining to the protection of refugee children and

respect of fundamental children’s rights , yet they failed to consistently honor them.

TEXT.MK: Manipulation of children who are unaccompanied by parents or family

member has always been present, trafficking and prostitution as well, so how to

prevent this?

ZMIJANAC: These organized criminal structures that operate in routes where refugees

transit on European soil are closely tied to criminal structures in Syria and Iraq, where

refugees move from. They receive information and exploit the weaknesses of the

countries through the route where the victims transit, fleeing the hell of war. The

international community must get mobilized and approach this problem seriously in

order to avoid abuse of refugee children ... Transit of children unaccompanied by a

parent or guardian must not be allowed.

The Governments have an obligation and responsibility to respect internationaldocuments ratified in their parliaments. Namely, we want to remind the public of the

United Nations Convention for combat ing women’s and children’s trafficking adopted by

the League of Nations in 1921, Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

adopted by the UN in 2000 for wider and better cooperation in prevention and combat of

organized crime. This particular one has been complemented by the Protocol for


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prevention, abolishment and punishment of people trafficking, especially women and

children (which is the first instrument that addresses all aspects of trafficking,

universally, that came into force in December 2013). We would like to remind the States

parties of the Protocol against migrant smuggling by land, sea and air (which entered

into force in January 2004). Macedonia signed it in 2000 and ratified it in 2004.

Obligations arising from other international documents are:

Convention on the prohibition of human trafficking and exploitation of others for

prostitution

• European Convention on child adoption;

• Hague Convention on jurisdiction, applicable law and recognition of decrees related to

adoptions;

• Convention no. 138 of the International Labor Organization for mi nimum age for

employment;

• European Social Covenant, with particular reference to Article 7, concerning the right

to protection of children and adolescents.

TEXT.MK: Where do you see the exit of the refugee crisis, as we hear more often

that we will have half a million refugees this spring?

ZMIJANAC: In raising public awareness of the importance of each country to get

mobilized and respond appropriately to this great humanitarian and solidarity challenge.

The importance of providing helping, primarily to refugee children, is crucial for the

response and solution to this refugee crisis. The number of refugee children who travel

to the borders of the European Union grows larger by day and they are all together

facing a test. The countries will respond to this challenge adequately or worsen the

condition. For the purpose of raising and mobilizing the public opinion on the importanceof respect for one of the most significant humanitarian and human principles - to lend a

helping hand when someone needs it the most, Megjashi created a publication in

cooperation with the Forum for Freedom of Education from Croatia named "We are all

children of this world: how to discuss the refugee crisis with students."

Another activity of the First Children's Embassy - Megjashi, besides being directly


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involved in helping refugees, is the ethical and peace education program.

Also, a group of civil society organizations in the region, such as the Roma Center for

Democracy from Serbia, Partnere per Femijet from Albania, First Children Embassy in

the World - Megjashi from Macedonia and Vive ZENE from Bosnia and Herzegovina

together with our partners Centre for Peace and Tolerance from Kosovo and IMPAKT

from Macedonia designed a joint campaign “WINK for HELP ” that represents an

internationally recognized body language, as a sign for help when someone is in

trouble. “WINK for HELP ” will be silent SOS signal to alert authorities when a person is

in trouble. The purpose of this campaign is to prevent human trafficking, especially with

those who have transited through Europe. Winking FOR HELP will create a universal

SOS sign to help prevent human trafficking, abduction, kidnapping and abuse.

In the upcoming period, once a week in the next three months, two psychologists from

the First Children's Embassy - Megjashi will be visiting the refugee shelter in

Tabanovce, where they will work with refugee children, focusing on their psychological

and post-traumatic empowerment, so that they can withstand in their efforts to come out

stronger from the fight against the exodus they are facing.

TEXT.MK: Do you believe that the new plan for closure of the "Balkan route" will

contribute to decreasing refugee counts and thereby to reduction of violation of

children's rights?

ZMIJANAC: The closure of the European borders, which was undertaken by European

countries because of concerns caused by the refugee crisis, will cause additional chaos

and confusion, and thus increase the risk of violation of children's rights and abuse of

refugee children.

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Dragi Zmijanac No Refugee Children Should Be Allowed to Transit Unaccompanied by a Parent or Guardian