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between States, a common European Union refugee determination appeal board and
common or shared reception mechanisms.
111. Develop coordinated efforts to move away from the detention of all migrants,
investing in alternatives that avoid punishing those arriving irregularly. Look towards
a model that quickly responds to and capitalizes on the strong desire of the vast
majority of migrants to work and contribute to society.
112. In line with the best interests of the child principle, step up protections afforded
to migrant children, particularly unaccompanied minors, and families with children.
Aim to eradicate the detention of children completely and to respond adequately to
the vulnerability of children in reception and social protection provisions. Age
verification is not a justification for detention and member States should move
towards a model that assumes vulnerability and responds by providing adequate
protection, given the particularly damaging impact of even short periods of detention
on children.
Access to justice and social protection
113. Remove barriers to access to justice ensuring migrants can effectively — and
not simply on paper — access legal remedy for violations of their rights. Facilitating
access to justice, without fear of detection, detention or deportation, in order to help
migrants fight for their rights, would go a long way towards, on the one hand,
legitimizing new migration policies by showing that territorial sovereignty and human
rights are not incompatible, and, on the other hand, changing mentalities regarding
migration through fighting fantasies and stereotypes.
114. Develop “firewalls” between immigration enforcement and public services, so
that all migrants in the European Union can seek access to justice and to social
services without fear of being denounced to immigration enforcement authorities and
deported.
115. Ensure that those who offer services, such as assistance to search and rescue
operations, medical support, shelter and legal advice, are explicitly protected from
prosecution under the facilitation directive.
Migrant workers
116. European Union member States should be weaned off their reliance on cheap
labour provided by migrant workers in specific economic sectors and should ensure
labour rights are upheld for all, including migrants, including irregular migrants,
through full implementation of the employers sanctions directive and rigorous labour
inspection. Long-term investment in enforcement of the labour and human rights of
all workers, including migrant workers, whatever their status, will allow the Union to
fill the inevitable increase in gaps in its labour markets in an efficient and organized
way.
117. Improve accountability of violations of the rights of migrants, including
through continued support and cooperation with the European Ombudsman and by
strengthening the coordination of national human rights institutions.
118. Reconsider the general refusal of EUMS to ratify the International Convention
on Migrant Workers.
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