Preparedness is key to protecting migrant children

The Chair in Children's Rights, in collaboration with Save the Children and the Centre for Innovation in Law (CID-ICADE), organised the conference "Preparation and contingency for the protection of migrant and refugee children in Spain", which was attended by the Secretary of State for Youth and Children, Rubén Pérez Correa, who was received by the Rector of the University, Enrique Sanz, SJ; the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Abel Veiga, and the Director of the Chair in Children's Rights, Myriam Cabrera.

During his speech, the Secretary of State for Youth and Children recalled that "much remains to be done" in terms of contingency and protection of migrant children. "Migrant children are not numbers and cannot be used politically. Children must be heard in the process," he added. "Our commitment is to reverse the situation of minors in reception centres at the borders, and to this end we will provide resources, training and, of course, education," he concluded.

The Secretary was accompanied by the General Director of Save the Children, Andrés Conde, who expressed hope that, for the first time, the voice of children will be heard in Congress. "Two priority issues for the sector will be addressed here. All these years of work have shown us that the key to the quality of the response to a crisis situation is never the strength of your operation, but your preparation," he said.

The first round table of the day was dedicated to the competency framework and included presentations by Clara Martinez, lecturer at the Faculty of Law; Laura Valenzuela, member of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), and Jennifer Zuppiroli, specialist in children on the move at Save the Children.

After the break, the second round table was held, aimed at exchanging experiences in migration management, with the participation of Tosca Vivarelli, representative of DG HOME in the European Commission; Luis Manzano. Deputy Head of the Programme Area at Accem, Carmen Sanz, technician of the Emergency Unit at the Spanish Red Cross.