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Recommendation 2169 (2020)
International obligations concerning the repatriation of children from war and conflict zones
1. The Assembly stresses the gravity
of the situation of children in Syria and Iraq whose parents, believed to
be affiliated to the Daesh, are citizens of Council of Europe member
States. It deplores the living conditions these children are confronted
with: stranded in squalid camps and detention centres; insufficient
food, shelter from the elements, access to clean water, medical
services and education; exposure to violence, abuse, trafficking
and exploitation; and high rates of illness and mortality.
2. The Assembly considers that the human rights-based approach
of the Council of Europe is essential for effectively combating
terrorism. Abandoning the children stranded in Syria and Iraq, in
zones characterised by war, conflict and their aftermath, leaves
these children exposed to grave violations of their rights as well
as the risk of radicalisation. Their repatriation, recovery and
(re-)integration is an investment in building prosperous and resilient
societies.
3. The Assembly takes note of the Council of Europe Counter-Terrorism
Strategy (2018-2022) and the Council of Europe Strategy for the
Rights of the Child (2016-2021). These are complementary policy frameworks,
which provide useful guidance for the Council of Europe member States.
However, synergies and complementarity between these strategies
should be further reinforced, with a view to effectively integrating
a child-rights perspective into counter-terrorism efforts.
4. In this urgent situation, the Assembly calls on the Committee
of Ministers to:
4.1. ensure that
Council of Europe action against terrorism, when dealing with child-related
issues, is focused on the best interest of the child, is in line
with the priorities set by the Council of Europe Strategy for the
Rights of the Child and ensures adequate protection of children’s
rights;
4.2. invite the Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child
(CDENF) to advise it on appropriate action to be taken by the Council
of Europe to address the situation of child returnees (including
with respect to their (re-)integration), and to co-ordinate the
decided course of action;
4.3. include a parliamentary round table on measures taken
by the Council of Europe member States to repatriate and reintegrate
children from zones characterised by war, conflict and their aftermath,
as part of the Conference on the Roles of Women and Children in
Terrorism, organised by the Council of Europe Counter-Terrorism
Division in June 2020.