Statelessness and Young Children by nearly all nations, except for the United States.20 To strengthen the CRC and ensure the needs of young children were not overlooked in policies and programmes, General Comment No 7: Implementing Child Rights in Early Childhood (‘GC 7’) was prepared.21 GC 7 recognises that young children have specific requirements for nurturing, sensitive and emotionally responsive care, the freedom to play, exploring their environment and learning.22 It upholds the agency of young children, stating that their views and feelings ought to be respected and considered in all matters concerning them. 23 These needs should be adequately planned for and implemented in legislative and policy frameworks. Importantly, GC 7 underscores the important role of parents and guardians, which includes the obligation of states not to separate young children from their parents. 24 The comprehensive array of services to support the development and wellbeing of young children that are noted in GC 7 begin at birth and include the right to birth registration. However, all too often, the rights of children who are stateless are not upheld. Case studies of stateless young children illustrate the challenges encountered by young children and their families in receiving basic services. CASE STUDIES OF STATELESS YOUNG CHILDREN A Stateless Children in Greece Greece continues to be an entry point for many people seeking refuge in Europe. 25 The dire consequences of making such journeys were starkly highlighted in 2015 when the body of two-year-old Alan Kurdi washed up on a beach in the Mediterranean.26 Alan’s death cast a spotlight on the unfolding crisis in Syria that has led hundreds of thousands of people to flee in search of safety, with more than 850,000 people arriving in Greece in 2015 alone.27 Sadly, such crises continue to erupt and recent events in Afghanistan have prompted yet another exodus with thousands of people fleeing the country in fear of their lives in just a few weeks. 28 More than 115,000 people were registered stateless in their applications for asylum across Europe between 2015 and 2018, including 6,000 children in 2015 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ‘No 11. Convention on the Rights of the Child’, United Nations Treaty Collection (Web Page) <https://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=IND&mtdsg_no=IV-11&chapter= 4&clang=_en>. General Comment No 7 (2005): Implementing Child Rights in Early Childhood, UN Doc CRC/C/GC/7/Rev.1 (20 September 2006) (‘GC 7’). ibid 3 [5]. ibid 5 [11](b). ibid 8 [18]. Eleni Kakalou et al, ‘Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Refugees Seeking Primary Healthcare Services in Greece in the Period 2015–2016: A Descriptive Study’ (2018) 10(6) International Health 421, 421. Joel Gunter, ‘Alan Kurdi Death: A Syrian Kurdish Family Forced to Flee’, BBC News (online, 4 September 2015) <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34141716>. ‘IOM Counts 3,771 Migrant Fatalities in Mediterranean in 2015’, International Organization for Migration (online, 5 January 2016) <https://www.iom.int/news/iom-counts-3771migrant-fatalities-mediterranean-2015>. Bernard Siman, ‘Afghan Refugees: Europe Should Develop an Ambitious and Collaborative Structure’, Egmont Commentary (online, 25 August 2021) <http://aei.pitt.edu/103615/1/Afghan_refugees_Europe_should_develop_an_ambitious_and _collaborative_structure_-_Egmont_Institute.pdf>. 157