Delivered at the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children.
On 12 March 2025, Defence for Children International (DCI) spoke on behalf of the NGO Panel on Children Deprived of Liberty. DCI delivered a statement during the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. The statement recognizes the adverse effects of detaining child trafficking victims and proposes solutions that focus on their protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
DCI agreed with the Special Representative’s report declaring that the detention of child victims of trafficking is a violation of their rights. Imprisoning a child does not treat them as victims but rather as criminals, causing alienation, a deprivation of their rights, and a disruption of their critical development process.
Mitigating these adverse effects of detention requires alternative solutions that prioritise the best interest of the child, recognising their rights to safety, protection, and dignity.
DCI calls on member states to:
- Improve training for maritime and law enforcement on SOPs for trafficking victim protection.
- Uphold non-refoulement and prevent collective expulsions.
- Enforce legal protections against child detention, both in practice and law.
- Strengthen coordination with social and child protection systems.
- Implement UN recommendations on children deprived of liberty.
Read DCI Statement in its entirety here