European States’ Obligations to Repatriate the Children Detained in Camps in Northeast Syria
Contents
Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 4
Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 6
Terminology ........................................................................................................................ 8
I. Factual Background ...................................................................................................... 10
A. Dire Living Conditions in the al-Hol and al-Roj Camps.................................. 10
B. Children and Women in the al-Hol and
al-Roj Camps.................................. 12
C. European States’ Repatriation Policies ............................................................... 16
II. European States’ Obligations to Repatriate Children Detained in Camps in Northeast
Syria .............................................................................................................................. 21
A. Extraterritorial Jurisdiction of European States in Syria ..................................... 22
B. The Best Interests of the Child ............................................................................ 26
C. The Principle of Non-Discrimination .................................................................. 29
D. The Right to Nationality ...................................................................................... 34
i.
ii.
Children’s Right to Acquire the Nationality of their National Parent(s) .... 39
Revocation of Nationality of Parents and/or Children ............................... 47
E. The Right to Access Consular Assistance ........................................................... 53
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Domestic Law .............................................................................................. 56
European Union Law .................................................................................. 57
International Law ........................................................................................ 58
International Human Rights Law ................................................................ 59
F. The Right to Enter One’s Own Country .............................................................. 61
i.
ii.
iii.
International and European Human Rights Law ........................................ 61
International Law ........................................................................................ 63
International Refugee Law .......................................................................... 65
G. The Right to Life ................................................................................................. 66
H. The Right to Be Free from Torture and Ill-Treatment .................................... 70
I. The Right to Liberty and Security ....................................................................... 72
J. The Right of Child Victims of Armed Conflict to Reintegration and Recovery. 75
i.
ii.
Children in the Camps Should Be Treated as Victims ................................ 75
Children Should Have Access to Rehabilitation and Reintegration
Policies… .................................................................................................... 78
III.
European States’ Obligations to Repatriate Children Detained in Camps in
Northeast Syria together with their Primary Caregivers ............................................... 80
A. Right to Family Life and Family Unity and the Best Interests of the Child ....... 81
IV.
3
Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 87