Just confirmed: the first children will be locked up in July!

16.05.18 The closed centre for families with children, after several delays, will be operational in July.

Construction of the new closed centre for families with children, after several delays, will be finished soon, and the first children will be detained as of July. This was announced in the press yesterday.

We reiterate that detention is never in the best interests of the child, and that research has shown the negative impact of detention on children's health, development and well-being. Furthermore, a large number of experts have taken a stance against child detention, and studies show that detention doesn't improve the families' cooperation with the authorities. We are also still very preoccupied about the length of detention and about the "categories" of families that will be detained.

Alternatives exist. Let's say "no" to child detention. Because : You don't lock up a child. Period.

A campaign by

Unicef
Mineurs en exil

In collaboration with

Caritas
Ciré
Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen
JRS
Amnesty