Education International Research
2. Local implementation The analysis of the data collected in the field through individual interviews and focus groups with a broad spectrum of actors and stakeholders illustrates comprehensively the implementation of the right to education for refugee children and unaccompanied minors.
2.1. The impact of migration policies on unaccompanied minors’ right to education While the issues outlined below do not directly relate to the education system itself, they have a direct impact on refugee children’s ability to fulfil their right to education and, as such, make the case for a better cross-sectoral collaboration between relevant authorities, as well as the development of a comprehensive rights-based policy framework. 2.1.1. The transformation of reception structures for unaccompanied minors Under Italian law, minors enjoy a specific protection regime, in that they cannot be detained in the so-called “Centres for identification and expulsion” (CIE)34 and cannot be hosted in the same accommodation structures as adults35. Nevertheless, cases of minors being detained in CIEs because they have been wrongly identified as adults have been reported36 and a significant number of unaccompanied minors have been detained alongside adults in the socalled “hotspots” promoted by the European Commission as of May 201537. They can even stay longer than adults in such structures - weeks or months - as their transfer to accommodation structures for unaccompanied minors may be delayed due to the lack of places. This long “transit” period often prevents them from exercising their most fundamental rights, including access to education and training.
34 The Centri di Identificazione ed Espulsione were established by the Law 40/1998 and initially called “Centri di Permanenza Temporanea e Assistenza”. They were created to detain third-country citizens without a residence permit pending deportation. 35 Legislative Decree 142/15, article 19, comma 4. 36 Rozzi, E. (2017) “In primo luogo minori? I diritti violati dei minori stranieri non accompagnati in Italia”, in Il diritto d’asilo. Report 2017. Minori rifugiati vulnerabili e senza voce, a cura di Delfina Licata e Mariacristina Molfetta, Fondazione Migrantes. 37 See https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-we-do/policies/european-agenda-migration/ background -information/docs/2_hotspots_en.pdf (Accessed on 28 April 2017). In Italy, there are four hotspots (in Sicily and in Apulia)
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