repatriation, ten children, some of whom were orphans, but most of whom were separated from their mothers, were repatriated. It was anticipated that a larger group of children was to be repatriated in July 2020, but ultimately their mothers refused to allow the children to be separated from them. GERMANY Estimated number of women and children in the camps It is estimated that there are around 150 German children and 50 German women detained in al Hol and Roj camps.9 RSI understands that there are estimated to be fewer than ten orphans and that these are mainly under five years old. RSI has received reports of at least three German teenage boys being forcibly removed from their families in the camps by Kurdish authorities.10 Government policy on repatriation The German Government’s policy on the repatriation of German nationals is unclear. Following the repatriation of four children in August 2019, the Foreign Affairs Minister stated that Germany has an obligation to bring back ‘especially vulnerable children’. However, in an email to RSI on 20 November 2020, the German Government stated that they do not have any kind of system ranking the vulnerability of children.11 As regards adult nationals, the German interior ministry spokesperson stated in February 2019 that ‘all German citizens, including those who are suspected of having been involved with the Islamic State have a fundamental right to be in Germany.’12 However, it appears that no steps are being made to repatriate these individuals. RSI contacted the German Government to request clarification of its repatriation policy position, however, it was unable to do so within the timeframe provided.13 Repatriation practice Germany has repatriated at least seven children and one woman in two operations.14 It is the only State out of the five States considered in this report that has repatriated an adult woman.15 In both instances, court proceedings in Germany were ongoing, though the court had not yet come to a decision on whether to order the repatriation of the children and woman concerned. One woman and her three children were repatriated in November 2019. This was facilitated by an independent third-party mediator with a relationship with the Kurdish authorities. RSI understands that the German Government did not intend to repatriate the mother with the children but that this was permitted at the last moment. It is also understood that the mother had previously been asked for consent for and consented to her children being repatriated without her. In August 2019, three orphans and a seriously ill six-month-old baby were repatriated. The mother of the baby gave her consent for the child to be repatriated without her. RSI understands that another child, the two-year-old brother of the orphans, was also supposed to be repatriated with them. He 60 RIGHTS & SECURITY INTERNATIONAL