European countries have reacted to the challenges of migration by adopting approaches who aim to substantially reduce the number of migrants entering Europe and increase the number of people returned. However, there is widespread concern that human rights and refugee protection standards are being undermined. One of those concerns is the use of detention, including child detention.
In this context, QCEA has published a report which explores aspects of child immigration detention in Europe. After briefly describing the legal framework and standards at international and European levels, the report gives an overview of the situation in Europe by addressing three main questions: How many children are detained in the context of migration? Which laws and policies regulate the practice, and what are the existing alternatives to child immigration detention? The report also discusses the impacts of detention, giving special attention to the different impacts on girls and boys in detention.