A recent report by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) has found that France committed serious and systematic violations against unaccompanied migrant children. The report stated that France failed to meet its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly in protecting minors seeking refuge within its borders.
The committee, made up of 18 independent experts responsible for monitoring children’s rights around the world, conducted a detailed investigation in October 2023. The inquiry revealed that France’s system for determining the age of migrant children was unreliable, often relying on physical appearance or questionable medical tests. These assessments, according to the UN, have led to many minors being wrongly classified as adults.
Because of these flawed evaluations, several unaccompanied children were reportedly denied access to shelter, education, and other vital support services. The report added that many were forced to live on the streets, in public parks, or in temporary camps for months while waiting for court rulings to confirm their age.
The committee also raised concerns about children attempting to cross from France into the United Kingdom. Some were detained in airport waiting zones and border holding centers—conditions that the UN experts described as “disproportionate and arbitrary.” Such practices, they argued, violated international child protection standards and exposed minors to further trauma.
Under Article 22 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, countries are required to provide proper protection and humanitarian assistance to any child seeking refugee status. The committee emphasized that France’s repeated failures had caused “serious harm and lasting damage” to many children’s physical and mental health.
The UN experts concluded that France’s shortcomings were not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of neglect. They urged the French government to apply the “principle of presumption of minority,” meaning any person claiming to be a minor should be treated as such until proven otherwise.
In its written response, France maintained that it guarantees shelter to all unaccompanied children and reaffirmed its commitment to respect this principle. However, the UN committee urged further reforms to ensure no child is left without care or legal protection.
France continues to face criticism over its handling of migrants and asylum seekers. The government is also dealing with a legal dispute over its agreement with the United Kingdom to exchange asylum seekers, an issue that has sparked fresh concerns about the country’s treatment of vulnerable groups.