December 8, 2025
In this collaborative legal analysis, the International Commission of Jurists, Save the Children, and Kids in Need of Defense raise urgent concerns about the treatment of unaccompanied children under Article 53(1) of the Asylum Procedures Regulation. Allowing even a narrow exception that places children in the asylum border procedure, where they may face confinement, truncated safeguards, and accelerated decisions, runs contrary to Europe’s human rights commitments. The partners urge EU Member States to honor the best interests of the child, reject harmful border-based processing, and guarantee every unaccompanied child access to safety, due process, and full protection.
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Inconsistent procedures across Europe leave unaccompanied children vulnerable and often without clear pathways to protection. KIND outlines evidence-based strategies and collaborations designed to close those gaps.
