By Lina Petrova, a member of the project board of www.asylboerneneudnu.dk

There is solid evidence that year-long stays at asylum centers increases the chances of a child developing mental health problems. However, the Danish government, despite the promises during the election campaign in 2007, has not taken action to solve the problem. Law professor, Eva Smith, is gathering signatures to put pressure on the government to help children in asylum centers.

Stays at asylum centres cause health problems for children

At the general election in 2007 nearly every party promised that they would work to find a solution to help children out of asylum centers. The issue became important during the build-up to the election because the independent organisation BMC Public Health released a report, which stated that the longer children stayed at asylum centers, the more likely it is that they would suffer serious mental problems. The standpoint to help the children at the asylum centres gained wide public support. Many felt that children had no choice regarding their situation and was not fair that they should be suffering.

Two years later and Smith hopes to gather 500,000 signatures in order to be able to convince Birthe Rønn Hornbech, the Minister of Integration, to take action against the problem.

‘The fact that children are suffering in Denmark, has been nagging my conscience for a long time. I cannot believe that politicians, administrators and we, the Danish people, can accept it.

So I finally decided to take action,’ says Smith.

On the homepage of the campaign, Eva makes suggestions about what should be done to solve the current situation.

What should be done?

On the homepage of the online campaign (www.asylbørneneudnu.dk) Eva outlines a step-by-step plan of action, to solve the problems.   Firstly, she states, a team of specialists – which should include a social worker, child psychologist and child psychiatrist - should examine the health condition of every child and recommend an individual plan of action, depending on the their specific needs. The parents, who often suffer from mental health problems themselves, should also be examined to determine whether they need parenting support.

After a thorough examination of both the parent and the child, several of the families will probably be given a permit to stay in Denmark. Whether this is the case or not, the needs and preferences of the family should be noted. This will include whether the family wants to live near families in a similar situation or close to relatives living in Denmark etc.

Secondly, the social worker puts the family in contact with an appointed school, childcare facility and the local job centre. After this the social worker assesses the family’s financial needs and proposes an appropriate monthly allowance, which gives the family the opportunity to live a normal life in Denmark, including leisure activities for children. Finally, the social worker transfers the case to a caseworker at the municipality, who will handle all future contact with the family.

Is it realistic to think that anything will be done?

Whether the plan is implemented or not, it shows the sceptics that there is a practical way to effectively address the mental health issues among children at the asylum centers.

‘It is simply incorrect, when politicians state that nothing more can be done to help the children. Some improvements have materialized throughout 2007 and 2008: families now have two rooms to live in instead of one, and more activities have been arranged for the children, but a trip to the ZOO can’t  compensate for a lost childhood,’ says Smith.

Unfortunately, the children at asylum centers are not currently on the political agenda. But the fact that politicians have forgotten their pre-electoral promises does not make the victims of the Danish asylum system disappear.

Whether or not the suggested plan of action is implemented or not, the signatures on the homepage are giving the asylum seekers hope for the future:

‘I was told that one of the fathers of the children in the asylum centers clicks on the homepage everyday to check how many signatures have come in. It must be so frustrating not to be able to influence you own future,’ says Smith.

You can  sign the declaration at  the following website www.asylboerneneudnu.dk and spread the message.