This section relates to articles of the UNCRC and Section of the Concluding Observations.
Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Migrants
- Government should keep records of the number of children who are looking for asylum in the UK.
- Governments should make sure that all children and young people who come to the UK on their own looking for asylum have a legal Guardian, which is a person to make sure that they are being properly looked after.
- In general, authorities should believe what children and young people say when asked for their age and only carry out age assessments if in serious doubt. When doing these assessments, they must understand that the different backgrounds the children have come from, and the experiences they have had may make them seem older than they are.
- You should not be kept or held because you are a migrant child or young person or because you are looking for asylum.
- If you are a refugee who needs to meet up again with your family, you should be helped by the government to make sure you are safe.
- If you are a migrant child or young person, or a refugee or asylum seeker you should have help to get basic services such as health care and accommodation.
- Assess whether the Immigration Act (2016) meets the requirements as outlined by the UNCRC.
- If you are going to return to your home country, some things must be done first to ensure your safety. The UK authorities must properly check whether going back to your own country is in your best interests. You should get help to check and sure you can be reunited with your family, and that you will be safe there. Arrangements should be made for you to be taken care of as soon as you arrive in the country.
Juvenile Justice
The Government should make sure that the youth justice system is properly in line with the UNCRC and other international standards.
- At the moment children aged 10 and above are held responsible for crimes they may take part in. The Committee thinks this is far too young, and recommends that the minimum age is raised.
- If you break the law you should be dealt with within the youth justice system until you are 18. When authorities have found ways of addressing your behaviour without detaining you, this should not be kept on your permanent criminal record.
- If you commit a crime when you are under 18, you should not be sentenced to life in prison.
- Young people should only be detained as a last resort and for the shortest amount of time as possible. Government should make sure that detention isn’t used more with some groups of young people than others because of discrimination.
- Young people under 18 should not be detained in the same place as adults.
- You should not be subjected to solitary confinement, this means being kept alone, under any circumstances.
- Government should keep a check on how segregation and isolation is used in detention centres.
Child Victims and Witnesses of Crimes
- If you are a victim or see a crime, you should not have to go to court to give evidence. Instead, you should be videoed being interviewed, and this should be used as evidence in court.