Acknowledgements

Simone Troller, researcher in the Children’s Rights Division, wrote this report based on her research and that of Lélia Tawfik, intern in the Children’s Rights Division.

Zama Coursen-Neff, deputy director of the Children’s Rights Division; Benjamin Ward, associate director in the Europe and Central Asia Division; Judith Sunderland, senior researcher in the Europe and Central Asia Division; Gauri van Gulik, researcher in the Women’s Rights Division; Bill Frelick, director of the Refugee Policy Program; Aisling Reidy, senior legal advisor; Andrew Mawson, deputy program director, edited this report.

Cassandra Mikicic and Kyle Knight, associates in the Children’s Rights Division; Anna Lopriore, creative manager; Grace Choi, publications director; and Fitzroy Hepkins, mail manager, provided production assistance. The Human Rights Watch Paris office provided additional invaluable support. Marie-Hélène Corréard translated the report into French and Cassandra Mikicic and Simone Troller vetted her translation.

We wish to thank the children who shared their stories and experience with us. We are also grateful to all ad hoc administrators who agreed to speak to us; to all non-governmental organizations including Anafé, Cimade, the Committee against Modern Slavery, Defense for Children International, Famille Assistance, France Terre d’Asile, the French Red Cross, Gisti, and Réseau Education Sans Frontières; to French human rights bodies including the Children’s Ombudsman, the Paris Bar Association, and the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights; and to UNHCR staff, for sharing their expertise with us and for their support in the course of this research. We also thank French government officials and the judiciary who generously allocated time to speak to us in France and replied to our requests for information.