Djibouti - A group of 25 senior Djibouti government officials, members of the security forces and partners have taken part in an IOM training on international migration law (IML) and child protection.

The training was facilitated by experts from IOM HQ and IOM South Africa and was part of a European Union (EU)-funded IOM child protection program. It was the second organized this year and followed a national seminar on unaccompanied migrant children organized by IOM in September.

In 2015, 4,584 migrants have been assisted by IOM Djibouti, 30 per cent of them children. Unaccompanied migrant children transiting Djibouti are mainly from Ethiopia and aged between 12 to 17 years old. Most are from Oromo, followed by Tigre and Amhara. Unaccompanied migrant children can get help from IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) Programme.

This IML training aimed at sensitizing the government officials on the content of international and regional norms and standards on the rights of migrant children and the responsibility of the State vis-à-vis of migrant children.

Participants highlighted the need to put in place a national referral mechanism for the protection and assistance to unaccompanied children. An outline of that mechanism was discussed during the training and will be further developed and promoted until its adoption by national authorities. 

Speaking at the opening of the training, the Ambassador of the European Union to Djibouti Joseph Silva said:  “More so than with other categories of migrants, our duty of humanity requires us to act here and now to prevent, inform, and help migrant children, and to pursue tirelessly all the people who exploit them.”

The Minister for Women Empowerment and Family Planning, in charge of the relationships with the Parliament, Hasna Barkat Daoud, said: “One of the fundamental principles of respect for children's rights is respect for the best interest of the child. It must be the first consideration underpinning all actions and decisions taken with regard to migrant children.”

IOM Djibouti Chief of Mission Henry Glorieux said: “Every migrant child has a history of its own, comes from a specific context and lives on special conditions. Knowing the profile of these children is essential to determine an appropriate response to their needs.”

For more information please contact Henry Glorieux at IOM Djibouti, Email: hglorieux@iom.int