Hungary law ‘risks child sex abuse’

>> BUDAPEST: Hungary’s new law to detain migrants in transit zones on its southern border will put children on the move at risk of exposure to sexual abuse, the watchdog Council of Europe said in a letter to Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Hungary passed a law earlier this month to detain migrants in camps on its border with Serbia, a step which the United Nations said violates European Union law and will have a “terrible physical and psychological impact” on asylum seekers. Under right-wing populist Mr Orban, Budapest has locked horns with European and international partners over economic and democratic issues, most recently over migration which Mr Orban says is a threat to Europe’s socioeconomic make up.

Claude Janizzi, the Chairperson of the Council of Europe Lanzarote Committee, told Mr Orban of his concerns over the new legislation along with a reminder that in 2015 Hungary signed up to the European Convention that aims to protect children from sexual abuse. He said under the new law, unaccompanied migrant children between 14 and 18 will be considered adults and will not benefit from child protection measures, including the appointment of a guardian. As a result of the changes, “instead of having access to a guardian and being able to benefit from the child protection system, these children will be considered as adult asylum applicants and placed in transit zones increasing the risk of becoming a victim of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse”, Mr Janizzi wrote. “I ... call upon you to ensure that child protection measures benefit all children without ... [including adolescents under 18]”.