A group of migrants, including women and children, have been sent back to the border with Belarus. A spokesperson for Podlaskie branch of Border Guard said a "procedure in line with the ordinance" was followed in their case. "This is a glaring violation of children's rights, a consent for harm and suffering of children enshrined in an ordinance," said Mirosława Kątna, chairwoman of the Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights.
On Tuesday, "Gazeta Wyborcza" journalists reported on the events that had taken place the previous day in front of the Border Guard base in Michałowo, Podlaskie province. The reporters said that 20 migrants, including women and 8 children were staying there. "They refused to enter the building, laid on the ground, lamenting," we read.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for Podlaski Border Guard Regional Unit Katarzyna Zdanowicz told TVN24 reporter Marta Abramczyk that a "procedure in line with the ordinance" was followed in their case. Asked if that meant they were taken back to the border, Zdanowicz replied: "Yes, they were escorted back to the border line and now they are on the Belarusian side. The spokesperson confirmed that women and children were among the migrants.
Mirosława Kątna: horrible suffering of children
Chairwoman of the Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights Mirosława Kątna told TVN24 that "from the perspective of the children, their wellbeing and safety, this is a horrible harm, a non-humanitarian practice". "The children who had found themselves there have no access to water and medicines. Even in warfare, at the front, if there are children, they have access to be medical help. And yet here, these children drink water from unknown source, do not eat, and have no proper clothes," she said.
"This is a disaster, a catastrophe, a defeat and disgrace of those in charge, who hide behind this ordinance. And there are real people out there. And among them a special category of people - helpless and lost children," she stressed.
In her opinion pushing back migrants to the border means that "all children's rights have been violated". "Let me remind that Poland signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We have pledged in this convention, as well in our constitution, to protect children's rights on our territory. And yet not only there is no protection, but a glaring violation of children's rights, a consent for harm and suffering of children enshrined in an ordinance," Kątna said.
Deputy human rights commissioner: a very deep crisis
The Commissioner for Human Rights deputy Hanna Machińska said that at the border we were dealing with "a dramatic situation, a very deep crisis". "The Commissioner for Human Rights makes various efforts, some of which we are not allowed to discuss in public. We're present in these places, we intervene and monitor the situation, and take active efforts," she reassured.
"We asked the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to issue an opinion regarding the ordinance signed by deputy minister Wąsik, as well on draft changes to the law on foreigners. We've received this opinion, and it's extremely critical. It relates to pushbacks, it says that implementation of these regulations causes pushbacks, which violate the international law," Machińska informed.
She underscored that "the state's basic duty is to protect children's rights". "The constitution safeguards the right of absolutely all children. Children have the right to being protected," she explained.
"This is the deepest humanitarian crisis we have in Poland. Tragedy of people, who have to force their way through swamps, children left living with no roof above their heads, without support and care, is absolutely unacceptable," deputy ombudsperson said.
She added that "this a responsibility of the state, but also the citizens". "We must never allow for children, but also adult migrants, to be treated this way," she stressed.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, TVN24