AGIA, "New migration rules will not affect unaccompanied minors"

(ANSAmed) ROME, 17 FEBRUARY: The rules contained in the new Migrant Decree should not affect minors, according to Marina Terragni, the Guarantor Authority for infancy and adolescence. The Decree approved by the Italian Council of Ministers on the new measures on matters of migration and international protection "introduces a new organic reform aimed at strengthening the measures to contrast illegal migration". "As far as unaccompanied minors in particular are concerned- 17,000 according to the latest available data, males nine times out of ten, ages 16-17 eight cases out of ten- the new norms should not substantially impact the so-called "administrative continuation" that safeguards the continuity of support and protection for unaccompanied foreign minors (MNSA) who are more vulnerable". This is what Marina Terragni, the Guarantor Authority for Infancy and Adolescence (AGIA), noted. The administrative continuation and competencies over repatriation "It seems that the new law in substance reduces the time of the continuation period until the 19th day, instead of the 21st, strengthening instead the specific provision of the production of documents by social services in order to motivate the wait for the request for continuation", continues Terragni, underscoring that "due to the increasing number of vulnerable cases and of the change in the composition of the young migrant population, the administrative continuation can have a really positive effect only if the person is accompanied by integrated support of the multidisciplinary teams of the local entities, aimed at responding to specific vulnerabilities of the youngsters, more than temporal ones tied to the continuation". Terragni further noted that "even if, another possible novelty, the transfer of competencies on assisted repatriation of the unaccompanied foreign minors by the Courts for Minors should be transferred to Prefects, meaning from a judicial sector to an administrative one, although this would be apparently problematic it would not change the substance of the matter for the situation of these youths, keeping into account the fact that each repatriation case of minor is, and will remain, a voluntary act and that in all cases it appears to be foreseen in the new law through the preventive favourable opinon of the Tribunal for minors in order for the Prefect to then issue the provision". Working on the shelter system, even with European funds The Guarantor Authority for Infancy and Adolescence explains that "The real focus is the issue of Unaccompanied Foreign Minors is and will continue to be, the shelter system on which the Guarantor continues to work assiduously with continuity. In addition to the interventions in cooperation with international organizations regarding participation with Unaccompanied Foreign Minors, AGIA, is realizing two national projects with U funding (FAMI). One regards the strengthening of the voluntary protection, the other the improvement of the shelter system for the Unaccompanied Foreign Minors through the strengthening of the capacity and experience of local entities to promote and accompany foster care of migrant minors". "The true change for the destiny of these youths in fact is to work on an significant increase of the share of foster care families, which at present is stuck at 4%, a solution that with all evidence is and remains the most efficient tool to insure their integration and inclusion in our society", concluded Terragni. PHOTO: The picture shows two foreign minors saved by an NGO ship. PHOTO/ARCHIVE/ANSA/CECILIA FERRARA) (ANSAmed). Read article...

By ANSA