Following an increase in the number of security officers at open centres for child asylum seekers, the General Workers’ Union called off industrial action after what have been described as numerous incidents in which some workers at the centres were threatened and even physically assaulted.
The case essentially concerns the housing of asylum seekers under the age of 18, the dividing line between child and adult age and the stage in a person’s development where, as is widely accepted, one reaches legal majority and assumes the legal rights of an adult.
The difficulties in responding properly to the particular challenges of this sector of asylum start with instances where age verification is far from plain-sailing.
Practical problems emerge in determining the age of a young asylum seeker. A person’s birth might never have been registered. In some cases identity documents were never issued or are not obtainable.
Identity papers may also end up lost or destroyed. Even when papers are available and appear to be in order, authorities might have good reason to question their authenticity and validity.
It could also happen that the person concerned, through personal initiative or after being coached, claims he is under 18 to unfairly benefit from the particular conditions and treatment designed and reserved for such people.
When reliable and trustworthy documents are not available to substantiate a person’s claim of being a minor, authorities usually base age assessment on physical appearance and/or what are known as ‘scientific procedures’ such as dental or wrist bone x-rays.
What is sure is that the authorities must invariably be very careful because, although an adolescent may have an adult body and perhaps even perform various adult roles, generally speaking that same person would still have to develop the emotional maturity and judgement of an adult which depend on life experience.
To further ensure there is the proper framework for the shelter and care of such people one also needs to keep in mind that the uprooting, disruption and insecurity inherent in refugee situations can harm a child’s physical, intellectual, psychological and social development.
The characteristics of a young person’s behaviour could also be linked to that person’s background – from the particular circumstances of the roots from which he had been dramatically uprooted, to the traumatic predicaments faced during one’s journey towards international protection or a better life away from poverty and hunger.
Hardships in refugee situations are chronic. They have a variable impact. Some will experience and show more symptoms of distress than others.
A GWU spokesman rightly said that most of the residents at the open centres concerned are peaceful, not trouble makers, and that it is the behaviour of a minority that is endangering workers as well as other residents. Nonetheless, as he argued, this needs to stop.
Increasing the number of security officers present was enough for the GWU to suspend its industrial action.
Yet, it would surely not be amiss if the opportunity is also taken to get the representatives of all parties concerned around a table for a frank dialogue.
The object of this should be aimed at ensuring members of the minority that are causing headaches are provided with an adequate case-by-case assessment by a competent team that includes young-people-welfare experts, and that they are provided with the necessary help.