The Committee’s investigation found that many unaccompanied children in France are being left without shelter, care, or basic support, and are forced to live in conditions that violate their dignity. It reported that unreliable age assessment procedures often lead to minors being classified as adults—frequently based only on their appearance or questionable medical tests, and without legal or guardianship support. As a result, many children are excluded from child protection services and denied access to housing, healthcare, and education. 

The Committee determined that France has breached several obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, describing these violations as serious, widespread, and systemic. It issued a series of recommendations, including applying the presumption of minority—that is, giving the benefit of the doubt to anyone claiming to be under 18—and ensuring all unaccompanied children, including those awaiting appeal decisions, have access to adequate housing, food, and water so that no child is left living in informal camps or on the streets. 

In response, France has notified the Committee of steps it is taking to address these concerns. These include measures to strengthen implementation of Act No. 2022-140 on child protection and the adoption of Decrees No. 2023-1240 and No. 2023-1253 (December 2023), which aim to improve procedures for placing and caring for children who lack family support. 

Read the full OP3 inquiry report and France’s response here.