The UN Refugee Agency ACNUR, UNICEF and Save the Children support the Spanish government’s approach of prioritising the transfer of unaccompanied underage girls as part of the planned easing of pressure on Ceuta. According to sources in Madrid, the Ministerio de Juventud e Infancia is working on a mechanism to transfer around 500 girls to mainland Spain in order to speed up accommodation and care. Supporters point to girls’ increased risk of exploitation, human trafficking and sexual violence.
In joint statements, the organisations said that a swift transfer to suitable facilities outside Ceuta could provide a more appropriate environment for protection and support. Save the Children also calls for binding procedures to assess age and protection needs individually, guaranteed access to legal assistance and psychosocial support, and priority for Familienzusammenführung. UNICEF warns that decisions on family reunification require robust safeguards and documented assessments.
The government is outlining an “equitativa” distribution of the minors to be received among the Autonomous Communities, without a blanket transfer of guardianship, and intends to uphold the rule of law. According to Ceuta and aid organisations, the situation has been tense since arrivals began at the end of July; some minors have not yet been clearly identified or are outside the formal protection system. Estimates vary by source, which is why authorities and NGOs are calling for cases to be handled promptly but individually.
Government sources say the operational details of the transfer – capacity building, care beyond initial reception and the identification of relatives – will be coordinated with the Ceuta City Council and the regions. Critics warn against blanket decisions or returns without individual assessment; all measures must be guided by the best interests of the child and documented in a way that will stand up in court. The European Commission is meanwhile assessing Spain’s request for emergency aid to deal with the situation in Ceuta.
The Ministerio de Juventud e Infancia is aiming to implement the plan within a short timeframe. At the same time, it stresses that every transfer requires the agreement of the receiving services as well as clear safeguards. The government, aid organisations and international actors agree that Ceuta needs short-term relief, while maintaining robust standards for reception, protection and family reunification.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).