European States’ Obligations to Repatriate the Children Detained in Camps in Northeast Syria Rights,94 and the European Parliament, 95 as well as other actors ranging from relatives of the women and children in the camps to child protection agencies96 and terrorism victim groups.97 However, despite national and international pressure, European States have repatriated only a limited number of children, overwhelmingly unaccompanied.98 Furthermore, in some cases European States have sought to actively prevent the return of their citizens by denationalization (see Section II.D. on the Right to Nationality). In this context, family members of the children and their primary caregivers detained in the camps have started to challenge in courts European governments’ decisions to not repatriate them. In some cases, such as in France,99 the courts deferred to the government’s political competences. However, in other cases, including in Belgium,100 the Netherlands,101 and European Commissioner for Human Rights, “Intervention de la Commissaire aux Droits de l’Homme du Conseil de l’Europe en Qualité de Tierce Partie devant la Cour Européenne des Droits de l’Homme,” Requêtes no 24384/19 et 44234/20 H.F. et M.F. c. France et J.D. et A.D. c. France, 25 June 2021. 95 European Parliament, “Resolution of 26 November 2019 on Children’s Rights on the Occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 2019/2876(RSP), 26 November 2019, para. 61. 96 Children’s Rights Ombudspersons (Belgium), “Recommendations From the Children’s Rights Ombudspersons of Belgium to Deal with the Children Returning in Belgium from Jihadist Zones,” no date, p. 2; The Children's Commissioner for England, “Letter from the Children's Commissioner to the Home Office and the Foreign Commonwealth Office”, 2019; The Flemish Office of the Children's Rights Commissioner, “Standpunt Belgische Kinderen Uit Terroristische Conflictzones Moeten Kunnen Rekenen Op Onze Hulp”, Statement, April 2018; The Dutch Children’s Ombudsman, “Nederland Moet Kinderen in Kampen Beschermen”, Statement, 19 April 2018; Alice Tidey, “Six Belgian Orphans of Islamic State Fighters Taken in by Belgium” EuroNews, 19 April 2018. 97 Association Francaise des Victimes du Terrorisme, “L’AFVT Souhaite Le Rapatriement Des Enfants Français Détenus Dans Les Camps Du Kurdistan Syrien,” 24 June 2019; FENVAC, “Faut-Il Rapatrier les Jihadistes Français? La FENVAC s’exprime”, 20 January 2020; Ouest France, “Une Fédération de Victimes Favorable au Rapatriement de Djihadistes Détenus en Syrie”, 13 January 2020. 98 Joana Cook and Gina Vale, “From Daesh to 'Diaspora' II: The Challenges Posed by Women and Minors After the Fall of the Caliphate”, 2019, pp. 35-36. 99 See: Reuters, “Top French Court Rejects Syria-Based French Jihadis’ Repatriation Demands”, 23 April 2019; France 24, “Families Sue French Foreign Minister Over Children Stuck in Syria”, 16 September 2019. For detailed information see: Thomas Van Poecke, Evelien Wauters, “The Repatriation of European Nationals from Syria as Contested Before Domestic Courts in Belgium and Beyond,” 2021, pp. 42-45. 100 See: Reuters, “Court Orders Belgium to Take Back Woman and Children from Syria”, 31 October 2019. For detailed information see: Thomas Van Poecke and Evelien Wauters, “The Repatriation of European Nationals from Syria as Contested Before Domestic Courts in Belgium and Beyond,” 2021, pp. 5-15. Also see: Alessandra Spadaro, “Repatriation of Family Members of Foreign Fighters: Individual Right or State Prerogative?”, Cambridge University Press, 26 November 2020. 101 See: Associated Press, “Dutch Court Orders Country to Repatriate Children of Radicalized Women in Syria”, 11 November 2019; Thomas Van Poecke and Evelien Wauters, “The Repatriation of European Nationals from Syria as Contested Before Domestic Courts in Belgium and Beyond,” 2021, pp. 35-37; Alessandra Spadaro, “Repatriation of Family Members of Foreign Fighters: Individual Right or State Prerogative?”, Cambridge University Press, 26 November 2020. 94 19