Do children have rights in Europe?
YES! Children have rights in law regardless of the child, their parent’s or legal guardian’s race, religion, abilities, sex, views, financial or any other status (i.e. legal status). Governments should ensure every child’s right to life, survival and development. They should help parents and legal guardians by providing services to support them. Children’s rights have to be protected by governments and their parents as well as the broader civil society. The “best interest of the child” should always be a primary consideration when decisions affecting children are made and the children’s wellbeing should always be protected from any harmful practices or living conditions.
As a parent, always seek to keep your children informed about their rights.
Read here a non-exclusive list.
Every child has the right to:
- express their opinion, and this opinion is listened to and taken seriously in all matters affecting the child;
- think and believe what they like and be whatever religion they choose, with their parents providing them with guidance;
- play, rest and leisure, and to participate freely in culture and the arts;
- privacy;
- the highest attainable standard of health and access to quality health care services, clean water, nutritious food, a clean environment and information to help them stay healthy;
- education, with primary education compulsory and available free to all.
- They should have access to education, which helps develop their personality, mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential, and encourages them to respect the human rights of all;
- enjoy their own culture, and use the language and customs of their families, whether or not these are shared by the majority of the people in the country where they live, so long as this brings no harm to them or others;
- every child who is disabled – be it mental or physical – has the right to special care, education, health and other services to help them lead a full and independent life;
- be with their family; therefore families who live in different countries should be allowed to move between these countries (legally, i.e. through family reunification procedures) so that parents and their children can stay in contact or reunite as a family. Governments should deal with these requests in a positive, humane and expeditious manner;
- help if they have been hurt, neglected or poorly treated; and governments should ensure that every child is protected from all forms of physical and mental violence, abuse, neglect, (sexual and work) exploitation, sexual abuse, drugs and dangerous substances, abduction, being sold or trafficked!
I arrived in Greece with my minor child/ren but my husband is not living with us anymore. How can I obtain travel documents for my child/ren?
When custody is shared either both parents have to appear before the aliens police to sign the application for the travel documents or the one parent who cannot appear has to give a written authorization to the other parent permitting to apply without his presence. This authorization needs to be signed in front of the competent authorities. This is because in shared custody where mother and father have equal responsibilities and rights, a child can travel only outside the country of residence if both parents are informed and agree.
In case your husband is living in another country (outside of Greece), and if you are in (good) contact with your husband, he may cooperate with you and visit a Greek embassy in the country he resides to make an official declaration that he permits you to apply for and receive the travel documents for your child/ren. This is only possible though if he holds valid identity documents which could be also an asylum applicant card or a residence permit or an ID.
In cases where the husband has died, you divorced or obtained custody, you need to bring official and original proof of his death, the divorce of the custody from the authorities of your country of origin that are stamped and then officially translated to Greek.
When this is also not possible and for all other cases, there are two different pathways according to your specific circumstances in order to obtain the right to apply for the passports of your children by yourself by obtaining relevant documents in Greece. Firstly, if you divorced, got separated, escaped from, lost your husband or he died in your country of origin then you can make a solemn declaration either at an attorney’s office or at α district court (Ειρηνοδικείο) describing the events that left you as a single mother, the time and your situation thereafter and that you have no official document from your country of origin for X reasons. It needs to be written in Greek, and stamped/signed by the attorney or court. You should ask your lawyer for help and know that depending on where you do the procedure (attorney or court) there will be expenses of approx. 10-60 Euros. There needs to be a translator present too.
This procedure needs preparation with a lawyer to describe in written form all the relevant events and circumstances correctly and consistent with your statements in your asylum interview. For the proper writing of the declaration the lawyer needs hours of reading your asylum file, asking you all necessary questions and writing. Once prepared carefully the following procedure takes only a few hours.
Secondly, if you divorced, separated, escaped from, lost your husband or he died in any other country (outside your country of origin and including Greece), then you will need to apply for custody at a Greek court. (See for this procedure section „Marriage and custody“)
Attention: The solemn declaration will be accepted to issue you the travel documents but it’s no official custody decision.
Attention: If you get a “provisional order” from the court, this is currently not accepted by the Greek Asylum Service equal to a court decision, thus, it needs to state explicitly that you can apply and receive travel documents for your child/children with it!
Attention: Every case and situation is different! Don’t listen to others who got necessary documents in Greece for obtaining travel documents for their children fast or late, but seek legal advice on your specific case to know the procedure you have to follow and to receive a careful estimation of its duration.
Attention: Even though it might be disappointing to wait for a court, once you have custody your position as a single mother is legally strengthened for the future. It may be worth the wait even if you could get the travel documents by a solemn declaration. You will not only be able to get travel documents for your child/ren but also you will have an official paper valid in the EU that proves you are the sole caretaker.
Attention: It’s best to seek legal advice on this matter from lawyers working for refugee rights organisations as they will explain the procedures to you and be careful to write the solemn declaration or court application wisely and based on the facts recorded already in your asylum file. While everyone seeks quick solutions – which we understand – they may in the long run neither solve your problems but even create new ones. Whichever lawyer to seek help from – private or from a human rights organisation – always ask to receive a full explanation of the legal procedures based on your specific circumstances.
Remember: If the lawyer representing you for custody is not the same lawyer who represented you for your asylum case, bring along copies of your asylum file (interview, decision) in order to make sure that relevant information is recorded correctly also in any custody procedure.
Do my minor children have to go to school?
Yes! In Greece, as in all European countries minor children aged 4-15 years have to go to public school according to law. As a parent you have the responsibility and the obligation to enroll your child to a public school. For enrollment usually you need to provide: a copy of asylum applicant card or residence permit, a vaccination booklet, a health certificate and proof of address. Enrollment takes place every year from June 1 to 15, but applications may also be accepted after those dates, if there are available places in the school. You need to go to the school that is nearest to your residence and say you want to register your children at the school. Often schools have no more free places, so in case your child cannot be enrolled there you have to ask at other schools for enrollment. Camp staff help you subscribe your child/ren to public school. If you don’t live in a camp, seek the help of a social worker to find a school for your child. (See contacts bellow)
If you live in a camp, small children visit the kindergarten inside the camp. If you don’t live in a camp you can apply for a place in a public child center (Greek: „paidikos stathmos“) if your child is aged between 2,5 and 5 years.
From the age of four children can attend a pre-primary school (Greek: „nipiaghoghio“), which is compulsory after the age of five. From the age of six children are enrolled in the first grade of primary school. Primary school lasts 6 years in Greece (Greek: „dimotiko sholio“), secondary education is for three years (Greek: „gymnasio“) followed by another 3 years of high school (Lyceum). In total children can go to school for 12 years in Greece. Children who graduate from secondary education in Greece (Greek: „lykio“) may participate in examinations in order to enter Universities or Higher Technological Institutions, or register in the Institutes of Vocational Training (IEK). For children with special needs (i.e. with disabilities) there are special schools. For enrollment in special schools, the Centres for Diagnosis, Evaluation and Support for Persons with Special Needs (KE.D.D.Y.) issues the relevant recommendation and makes the referral.
Attention: For more information on the educational system in Greece, afternoon schools for teenagers, education for adults such as “second chance schools”, university and the recognition of foreign educational diplomas please consult a social worker.
Attention: There is a specific system in Greek schools to integrate nonGreek speaking children, in order to receive special support for language learning and further help. The system is complicated, it is applied differently in each school and does not always work well. We have heard from many mothers that their children were enrolled to school but stopped going for different reasons, either because they felt they were “not learning anything”, “other children were ignoring them or even treating them badly”, “feeling unsafe or unwell to go to school”, “lacking money for the purchase of necessary school items or food” etc. We know that often going to school, especially in the beginning when children don’t know Greek yet, is no fun or
feels like a waste of time to them. But as explained above there is a legal obligation for the children to go to school, so you as a parent have to convince them to continue visiting school. Seek the help of responsible persons in the camp you live or a social worker to solve any problems your child/ren may face at school and explain to your child/ren that they have no choice as you as their parent may face legal problems if they don’t go to school. Also explain that it is important for their development to be in an environment with other children of their age, to try to learn new languages and other skills and that it is their right as a child to go to school.
Attention: For every year of attendance, ask for a certificate of enrollment from the school your child visits and keep this along with the annual grades document safe in one file. You may need these documents during your asylum procedure, to get social benefits and to document the educational path of your child.
Attention: If your child/ren don’t go to school although they could (they are enrolled in school) or if you didn’t even try to enroll them in school you may face legal problems for “child neglect” or face negative results if applying for custody.
Find a social worker to help you for school enrollment for example here:
Lighthouse Relief - Athens
The offices are located in the Victoria Community Centre, Filis Street 68 (near Victoria Square) where you can find an Info-Point on MondaysFridays 10:30-16 and social service Monday- Wednesday and Thursday
11-16. In any case, better you contact first directly on WhatsApp by message from Monday to Friday at 10:30-16:00: Arabic +30 6940919938 - Farsi +30 6946130898 - French +30 6949241496
Red Cross Multifunctional Centre for Refugees - Athens
Enrollment to school, psychosocial support, help booking appointments and interpretation at hospitals, classes and activities. Address: Kapodistriou 2 (1st floor), Athens, Monday-Friday 9:00-15:00. For some
services appointment is required. Contact: Whatsapp / Viber: +30 6934724893.
Blue Refugee Center of Solidarity Now- Thessaloniki
Psycho-social support and legal advise for parents and their children, help for enrollment to school, homework support, referrals to medical services and employability support. Address: Ioanni Koletti 25D, Monday-Friday 9:00-17:00. For appointments, call or visit directly. Tel: +30 2310555263 or +30 2310555264.
IRIDA women centre - Thessaloniki
Support to enrol children to school and safe space for children. Address: Venizelou Street 59. Tel. +30 2311296392 or message on WhatsApp on +30 6907289836. Email: irida@iridacenter.org. Languages spoken: Arabic, Farsi, Ukrainian, French, Greek and English
How do I register the birth of my child in Greece?
If your child is born in Greece, you need to declare the birth in the nearest registry office in the municipality where the child is born. Hospitals usually have their own civil registry office of the municipality within their premises.
After birth you visit the office showing your asylum applicant card / residence permit, to ensure the correct spelling of your name. For the registration of the baby’s father, submit his documents too and show your marriage certificate and also tax and social security (AFM and AMKA) documents (for the Greek writing of names). You will be issued a birth declaration from the hospital thereafter. Usually, the birth declaration is sent directly from the hospital to the local registry office, so that the registry office issues the birth certificates in a timely manner. Be careful to check all names and dates are written correctly and according to your Greek identity documents. Within ten days after birth you should visit the competent civil registry office of your residence (i.e. in central Athens) to submit the document, declare the name you are giving to your child and receive the birth certificate. Once you receive this, register your child also at the Asylum Service to issue their asylum documents at an appointment by sharing the birth certificate.
Attention: Often there are only limited or no translation services both in the hospital’s registry office and the civil registry. Bring along somebody to translate if possible!
Attention: If any information of you or the father is registered incorrectly or no name of the baby was stated, it may become a time consuming and complicated procedure to correct the birth certificate that you will most likely need a lawyer for. If the mistake is simple the correction may be made by a Public Prosecutor’s order. If the mistake is more complicated, it will need to be corrected by a Court decision.
Attention: If the father of the child is not in Greece during the birth, if you are not married or you don’t present his information in the registry office of the hospital you gave birth, in practice, his details are usually not included in the birth declaration and the child is considered to be born out of wedlock, unless an official marriage certificate is presented. The name of the father can be added later, following a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage on behalf of the father, which is done at a notary and you must usually pay
privately for.
You can apply at the nearest municipality office (KEP) for a copy of a birth certificate.
To contact the Civil Registry of Athens call +30 2105277934 or send an Email to: t.genniseon@athens.gr. Address: Liosion Street 22 (near Omonia).
To contact the Civil Registry of Thessaloniki visit: Vassilis Georgiou 1, 1st floor, call +30 2313317420 or +30 2313317485 or send an Email to: lix@thessaloniki.gr - currently no appointments are necessary but this may
always change. To contact any civil services in Greece such as also the Civil Registries, you can call the general number: 1502.