Children in the asylum procedure

Children in asylum

Many children go through a procedure granting international protection in Belgium. Although they are all under 18 years old and apply for international protection, they can be divided into different categories:

• the accompanied child: most children remain here with their parent(s) or (legal) representative. Their parents have filed an application for international protection or their parents have filed an application for international protection on their child’s behalf.
• the unaccompanied child: unaccompanied children are in Belgium without any parent or representative and, file an application for international protection through a guardian.

The procedure granting international protection contains some specific provisions for both categories of children. The CGRS takes additional measures to process this kind of applications.

The coordinator for minors

The CGRS has a coordinator for all children. The coordinator knows everything related to the processing of applications for international protection filed by accompanied and unaccompanied minors. The protection officer can turn to the coordinator for questions regarding children in the procedure granting international protection. Guardians and lawyers can turn to this coordinator with questions or remarks.

A specialised protection officer

The child is always interviewed by a specialised protection officer who has the necessary knowledge of the rights and special needs of minors.

In addition to a specific training, the protection officers also received a basic training and have at least two years of experience in interviewing adults.

This training in particular focuses on:

• Belgian and European legislation, directives, provisions and the legislation on guardianship;
• the principle of the higher interest of the child;
• the phases in children's development and the different levels of maturity;
• the functioning of children’s memory;
• indicators of vulnerability in children;
• the position of a child in the different cultures and intercultural communication with children;
• child-specific forms of persecution.

Adapted interview method

An adapted interview method is used for the personal interview with children.  In addition, the personal interview takes place in a separate interview room adapted to children. The protection officer adapts his language to the child and encourages it to tell as much as possible of its story spontaneously, from the perspective of its own perception. In doing so, he avoids asking closed questions as much as possible to avoid influencing the child. During the personal interview the child can draw or use other tools to clarify its story. The child can request a break whenever it needs one. The interpreters who assist the children during the interview have also received specific training.

Fig. - Welcome and hearing room for minors.