UNHCR’s observations to the Swedish government’s law proposal on age assessment earlier in the asylum procedure.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has submitted its observations to the Swedish government’s draft law proposal “Age Assessment Earlier in the Asylum Procedure” (“Åldersbedömning tidigare i asylprocessen”), Ds 2016:37.
UNHCR welcomes the proposal to undertake age assessments early in the asylum procedure, if the minority of a proclaimed unaccompanied or separated child is in serious doubt. UNHCR also welcomes that the age assessment is adopted through an independent, temporary decision, which is possible to appeal. UNHCR also takes note of, and welcomes, the fact that a proclaimed unaccompanied or separated child will be represented by a legal representative throughout the process.
UNHCR recommends that medical age assessments are only used as one part of a holistic and multi-disciplinary assessment of the age that takes into account factors such as gender, maturity, capacity, vulnerability, health, and specific needs, which can influence the assessment of the age of the individual in question.
UNHCR’s observations are available here.
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