CHILDREN of illegal immigrants in Cyprus could be at the mercy of human traffickers as they are not officially registered anywhere.
“The Children of no identity”, as Child Commissioner Leda Koursoumba described them yesterday, have absolutely no protection from the state as they virtually do not exist in the eyes of the law.
“This leaves children vulnerable to many problems, but worse of all, they become exposed to human traffickers,” said Koursoumba. “And with no proof of their existence, victims are lost without a trace.”
The newly appointed Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights raised the alarm at yesterday’s House Human Rights’ Committee, during which she was asked by AKEL deputy Panicos Stavrianos to explain how she was planning to help asylum seekers’ children.
Koursoumba referred to a complaint filed by the United Nations over a child of illegal residents in Limassol, which needed medical attention but couldn’t receive it as he wasn’t registered and didn’t have a birth certificate.
“I have been informed that procedures are underway to secure a birth certificate. By law, the state is obliged to register all children born in the Republic,” she explained.
According to Emilia Strovolidou of UNHCR in Cyprus, refugees fleeing from desperate situations have no choice but to do so illegally.
“Sometimes, the state does not offer them visas so they have no other option,” she said. “If among these irregular migrants there are children, they are definitely more vulnerable to exploitation, as they are not registered in any way.”
Koursoumba yesterday also briefed the Human Rights Committee on her plans for her new role.
“I am here to ensure children’s rights are respected at all levels,” she said, adding that she would meet children personally and help them deal with court issues.
“If I see the UN Treaty for children’s rights being violated I will intervene and if nothing is done, I will go public.”
The Child Commissioner’s main problem is the lack of staff, compounded by the low budget her office has received.
“To operate fully, this institution needs 30 people, but for a start we agreed we’d have five. Now, there are only four of us, myself included,” she explained.
For its budget, the commission requested €400,000 but was only given €146,000 “and this is not nearly enough”.
Koursoumba and her colleagues have prepared a two-year action plan, with the top priorities for 2008 being:
l Improving children’s homes
l Ensuring children’s right to participate in domestic decision making are respected – “Children have the right to an active say in family matters; I will help them gain that voice,” said Koursoumba
l Improving adoption procedures in Cyprus
l Ensuring children’s rights are being respected by the judicial system in cases such as divorces. “This issue needs to be looked at spherically in order to improve procedures”
l Improving school operation rules and ensuring children’s rights are being protected. According to Koursoumba, the Education Ministry’s official instructions to primary and secondary education schools contradict the UN Treaty. “We will have to amend the Law”
l Paying special emphasis to children with disabilities.
“I would like to meet with the new President of the Republic before I say too much,” said Koursoumba. “I don’t want to come into conflict with the state, but if I point something out and nothing is done, I will not hesitate to go public with it.”
