EU partly responsible for Sudanese children's rights abuses: NGO

The European Union shares responsibility for systematic violations of Sudanese refugee children's rights due to its disproportionate emphasis on border control measures, according to humanitarian organization Save the Children. The accusation follows research documenting the experiences of 66 children who fled Sudan's ongoing conflict, revealing widespread physical and psychological harm endured during their journeys.

Research Findings and Child Testimonies

Julia Verheul of Save the Children stated the research aimed to "map the physical and psychological harm children endure before they arrive in the EU." The study found that the EU's singular focus on strict border management pushes unaccompanied minors into the hands of smugglers and renders them invisible to humanitarian assistance. Personal accounts include a 15-year-old girl now in Egypt who fled after her father's murder and an 18-year-old who witnessed rebel forces abducting neighborhood children who never returned.

EU Policies and Consequences

Verheul criticized the EU for investing "hundreds of millions in border control without checking whether children's rights are being respected," noting that violations are becoming increasingly severe. She reported that children face detention, arrest, and forced returns to "completely unsafe" countries, including Sudan itself. The official expressed disbelief that "the EU not only allows this to continue but also actively contributes to it," highlighting the contradiction between the bloc's human rights rhetoric and its border enforcement practices.

Context of Sudanese Conflict

The humanitarian crisis stems from the devastating conflict between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that began in April 2023. According to World Health Organization figures, the violence has killed at least 40,000 people and displaced 12 million, creating one of the world's most severe refugee situations. The EU's border policies have come under increasing scrutiny as thousands of Sudanese children attempt dangerous migration routes to escape the ongoing violence and instability in their homeland.