Left to Survive

Systematic Failure to Protect Unaccompanied Migrant Children in Greece

Map of Greece

Summary and Key Recommendations

Key Recommendations

Methodology and Scope

I. Unaccompanied Child Migrants and Asylum Seekers in Greece

Flight from Poverty, Persecution, Exploitation and Discrimination

Greek Law and the Protection System for Unaccompanied Children

II. First Contact with the Authorities

Assessing Age

Guardianship

Assessing Vulnerability

III. Violence against Children by State Agents

Ill-Treatment by Port Police Officers in Patras

Other Cases of Abuse by State Agents

IV. Unaccompanied Children Seeking Asylum..

Asylum Procedures for Unaccompanied Children

V. Detention of Unaccompanied Children

Duration of Detention

VI. The Duty of Care

Care Arrangements

VII. Exploitation of Children

Child Labor

Trafficking

VIII. Returns and Deportations

IX. Recommendations104

To the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity104

To the Ministry of Justice and Public Prosecutors104

To the Ministry of Interior105

To the Ministry of Labor107

To the Government as a Whole107

To the European Commission108

To the Council of the European Union109

To the European Parliament109

To European Union Member States109

To the Council of Europe110

To the United Nations110

Acknowledgements111