(ANSA) - STRASBOURG - The Hungarian law on border management, that enters into force today, "will increase the already highly vulnerable situation of children on the move, exacerbating in particular the exposure of those aged 14 or more to sexual exploitation and sexual abuse". The critic is contained in a letter sent to Prime minister Victor Orban by the president of the Lanzarote committee, the organism of the Council of Europe in charge of monitoring if States protect minors from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.

In the letter the committee expresses "concerns" on the law because it considers that it contains measures that go against the obligations Hungary has having ratified the Lanzarote convention. In particular the committee criticizes the fact that unaccompanied migrant children between 14 and 18 will be considered adults during the emergency crisis and will not benefit from child protection measures, including the appointment of a guardian. It also says that these children will be placed in transit zones "with a greater risk of becoming victims of sexual abuse or exploitation". The committee therefore asks the Hungarian authorities to provide information on 3 topics within a month. The committee wants to know which actions are taken to ensure that unaccompanied children (above or below 14 years of age) benefit from child protection, which measures will be taken to prevent such children from falling victims to sexual exploitation and abuse, and about the situation of children on the move who do not request asylum, as the legal changes concern only asylum seekers.

Based on this information, the Lanzarote Committee "will decide on further action". The letter follows the critic already expressed on the law by the humans rights commissioner of the Council of Europe and the judgement against Hungary by the Court of Strasbourg for the detention and expulsion to Serbia of 2 asylum seekers from Bangladesh. (ANSA).