Children seeking asylum are at risk of being held in a detention centre in Zeist under new European migration rules, warns the non-profit refugee foundation VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN). The organisation is calling for urgent action to prevent the use of such measures. VWN claims this could cause significant long-term harm to minors.
Refugee organisations met with politicians in The Hague on Thursday to discuss the implementation of the European Asylum and Migration Pact. The Netherlands is preparing for stricter border procedures, set to take effect in mid-June. VWN urges the government to exercise its national discretion under the pact to rule out the use of the Zeist facility for children.
The new rules primarily affect families arriving at Schiphol Airport from countries outside of Europe with low asylum approval rates (currently defined as those with a success rate of less than 20 per cent). Previously, authorities housed these families in regular asylum centres because the law prohibited the detention of children. However, the new pact threatens to change this.
Health risks for minors
Refugee organisation VluchtelingenWerk has stated that no child should ever be placed in a prison-like environment. The charity highlighted research showing that detention is deeply damaging to the physical and mental health of young people. Common issues identified include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), malnutrition, and developmental problems such as bedwetting and chronic headaches.
VluchtelingenWerk Nederland urges the government to use standard reception centres for families rather than detention. They propose alternatives like mandatory reporting to monitor asylum seekers without damaging the well-being of children.
Current use of the Zeist facility
The Zeist location is currently managed by the Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V) for rejected asylum seekers. While the site contains small houses and offers some educational activities, residents are not permitted to leave the premises.
Alongside VWN, several other key bodies shared their views on the migration pact on Thursday, including the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA), the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), and the Council for the Judiciary.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
