The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has accused France of committing serious and systematic violations of the rights of unaccompanied migrant children. In a report released on October 16, the committee said France had failed to protect vulnerable minors who were left homeless, deprived of care, and living in degrading conditions that violate human dignity.
According to the report, many of these children were wrongly treated as adults because of unreliable age assessment procedures. These assessments, the committee said, were often based only on physical appearance or questionable medical tests and were carried out without the presence of a trusted adult, legal guardian, or lawyer. As a result, many children were excluded from the country’s child protection system.
The committee highlighted that once a person claiming to be a minor is classified as an adult, they remain in that status throughout the process, which can take eight months or more. During this time, they are denied access to essential services such as shelter, food, healthcare, and education, forcing many to live on the streets, in public parks, or in makeshift camps.
“These shortcomings have led to the systematic exclusion of many children from protection,” the report stated. It added that children whose age status is still being reviewed are often left without support while awaiting a judge’s final decision. The UN warned that this exposes them to extreme risks of trafficking, abuse, and even police violence.
The Committee also noted that between 50 and 80 percent of age reassessment appeals later prove that the individuals are indeed minors, showing how deeply flawed the initial processes are. This situation, it said, clearly violates several articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the right to education, healthcare, and protection from inhuman or degrading treatment.
In addition, the report criticized the detention of children for migration-related reasons and called it a clear breach of international human rights standards. The Committee emphasized that the issue is widespread across France, not limited to major cities like Paris, but also affecting regions near borders and provincial towns.
While no official figures exist on the exact number of children affected, the UN said the scale of the problem is “persistent and extensive.” The report follows earlier calls from UNICEF urging France to protect — rather than prosecute — exploited minors.
To address the crisis, the UN Committee recommended that France adopt the “presumption of minority” principle, meaning authorities should give individuals the benefit of the doubt when they claim to be children. The Committee also urged France to guarantee adequate housing, food, and clean water for all unaccompanied minors, including those awaiting appeal decisions, to ensure no child is left living on the streets or in unsafe camps.
Human rights advocates hope this report will push France to urgently reform its policies and strengthen protections for migrant children. As the UN stressed, every child — regardless of their nationality or immigration status — deserves safety, dignity, and care.