Bourita: repatriation of unaccompanied minors is well underway, despite complications

Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita said that the Kingdom is still trying to ensure the return of minor nationals from Europe despite complicated process.

Bourita stated, in response to a written question from the House of Representatives, that the process of deportation of this group can only take place if the condition of receiving the child are met.

these conditions concern either the minor’s family, or  institutions specialized in child care, pointing out that if this condition is not met, deportation takes place only after the minor reaches the legal age of adulthood, set at 18.

The Minister considered that the mechanism to accompany this category of irregular migrants is not without hurdles, due to different legislation and the diversity of administrative approaches in the receiving countries to address the problem of minor irregular migrants.

The legislation of most European countries stipulates that the deportation of a minor child to his country of origin requires the issuance of a ruling issued by a competent judicial authority.

In explanations published for the first time, the  government official confirmed that the ministry has made it a top priority to advance the interests and rights of Moroccans living abroad by implementing a social program aimed at keeping pace with the needs and requirements of vulnerable and destitute groups of Moroccans in the world in general, and Moroccan children in an irregular situation abroad.

Bourita highlighted that the Ministry, in response to the requirements of this category, has worked to develop a mechanism for accompaniment and support.

This new initiative concerns both receiving countries or at home, and aims mainly to provide healthcare and psychological support to minors and finding appropriate solutions to the problems associated with family gathering.

On the measures taken at the level of receiving countries, the Minister stressed that work has been done to launch a request for proposals for associations of Moroccans of the world intervening in this field, in order to select and support projects to accompany unaccompanied minors, which have been implemented in Spain, Italy and France.

With regard to the measures taken at home, the  government official stressed that the Ministry is coordinating with the interventionist sectors in order to support returning minors in their efforts to obtain the necessary administrative documents, and to integrate them into the school and vocational training  after making contact with their families.

If their relatives are not identified, they shall exercise the judicial process in force in this context, with the appointment of a legal deputy by the judiciary entrusted with the task of caring for these children  until they reach the age of majority.