The Greek Parliament Not to Abolish the Residence Permit for Unaccompanied Children Who Came of Age in Greece and Have Successfully Completed Three Years of Greek Schooling

Through a joint letter, a total of 17 Civil Society Organizations—many of which are members of the Child Rights Advocacy Network—call on the Greek Parliament not to adopt the abolition of the residence permit for unaccompanied children who came of age in Greece and have successfully completed three years of Greek schooling, as provided for in Article 38 of the draft bill currently under discussion in Parliament by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

Among other points, and as emphasized in the letter, this specific residence permit:

• Was introduced in 2023, came into force in March 2024, and constituted a commitment made by the Prime Minister himself and the political leadership of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

• Is the only provision that offers protection to young people who entered and were registered in Greece as unaccompanied children.

• Grants a residence permit to a group of third-country nationals who are, by definition, already integrated and productive—namely, young people who arrived in Greece as unaccompanied children and have successfully attended a significant number of years in Greek schools.

• Keeps children engaged in education while simultaneously reducing the risk of exposure to juvenile delinquency and exploitation.

• Its potential abolition would constitute a serious regression in child protection and would negate a long-term investment by the Greek state in the social and economic integration of young people who arrived as unaccompanied children. At the same time, it would undermine the coherence of migration policy, given that in recent years an approach has been developed that recognizes the need for special treatment of former unaccompanied children and their gradual integration.

The organizations co-signing the letter call on the Greek Parliament to reject the proposed abolition of the relevant provision and to adopt further measures that ensure effective child protection.

Signatory organizations – members of the Child Rights Advocacy Network (CRAN):

ARSIS – Social Organization for the Support of Youth
Network for Children’s Rights
ELIX
Greek Council for Refugees
METAdrasi
Shedia – Center for Pedagogical and Artistic Training
Better Days Changemakers Lab
International Rescue Committee (IRC) Hellas
INTERSOS HELLAS
Safe Passage International – Greece
SolidarityNow
Terre des hommes Hellas
The HOME Project

And the following organizations:

Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders – Greek Section
Greek Forum of Refugees
Refugee Support Aegean (RSA)