CRC/C/DNK/CO/4 G. Special protection measures (arts. 22, 30, 32-36, 38-40, and 37 (b)-(d), of the Convention) Asylum-seeking and refugee children 57. The Committee welcomes the high standards of the reception centres for unaccompanied children seeking asylum and that these children will continue to have access to a legal representative following a negative decision on their asylum case as per amendments to the Danish Aliens Act. However, the Committee is concerned that: (a) There are unaccompanied asylum-seeking children disappearing prior to the final processing of their asylum case; (b) Many children of asylum-seeking families have been diagnosed with psychological or psychiatric problems as a result of having experienced trauma caused by or relating to their circumstances; (c) Children who do not cooperate with age-determination will face procedural consequences; (d) The majority of asylum-seeking children of school-going age receive education in separate schools where the quality of the education is significantly lower than that of mainstream Danish schools, and that these schools do not grant academic credits which qualify the children for further education. 58. In the light of the above listed concerns, the Committee urges the State party: (a) To undertake a systematic survey on the disappearance of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, especially with regard to the effect that revoking residency rights upon attaining 18 years of age may have on their disappearance, and integrate findings in the formulation of the State party’s policies for ensuring that the rights of children in such circumstances are fully respected; (b) To initiate timely, practical and appropriate measures for preventing the disappearance of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, including by: (i) only applying the Dublin II Regulation in cases where it is in keeping with the child’s best interest; and (ii) ensuring that all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are provided with a trained guardian and, if necessary, legal aid, with due regard to the child’s best interest and right to information and freedom of expression, upon their arrival and until such time when their asylum process is completed; (c) To revise the proposed amendments to the Danish Aliens Act to remove the proposal that if a child does not cooperate with the age-determination process there will be procedural consequences, and ensure that international standards for how to conduct such process are introduced; (d) To apply the Danish Aliens Act in a manner that will ensure a legal status and a durable solution for children suffering from trauma and diagnosed with psychological or psychiatric problems, providing the social and health measures required for their mental rehabilitation; (e) To ensure that asylum-seeking and refugee children receive the same quality of education as children in Danish schools. Sexual exploitation and abuse 59. While noting that the State party is in the process of updating its Plan of Action for Combating Sexual Abuse (2003), the Committee is concerned that the programming 12

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