Samir is 16 years old and has been in Sweden for a year. He has no ID document and can therefore not prove his age. He has recently found out that the Swedish Migration Agency has made the assessment that he is 18 years old and has written down his age. This means that Samir is not allowed to stay at the HVB home and must move immediately. Samir calls his good man who tells Samir that he can no longer help him as he is no longer considered a child. The Swedish Migration Agency’s decision can be appealed, but since the decision takes effect immediately, Samir has to move from his friends at the accommodation and to a new environment with adults. Samir who came to Sweden alone has experienced abuse by adults during the trip. This makes him extra vulnerable in his new life situation.

Samir’s situation indicates that articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child are not complied with.

Article 3 on the best interests of the child has not been complied with in this case. Samir feels insecure and what would be best for him has been de-prioritized.

Article 2, which concerns the equal value of all children and that no child may be discriminated against, can also be discussed. Would this have happened if Samir was not an asylum seeker?