FIRST AND FOREMOST CHILDREN, NOT IRREGULAR MIGRANTS

Key words: Child rights, Access to health and social services, Legislation, Irregular migrants

The content and the impact of the recent legislation on internal security on migrant children and particularly on children whose parents are irregular migrants is presented and discussed. Also due to the mobilization of civil society and NGO, little has been formally changed with respect to the right to access health and educational services by migrant children, but the legislation, by introducing the concept of irregular migration as a crime, has created ambiguity and uncertainty among professionals and the population and have led irregular migrant workers and their family members to limit their access to health and social services, because of their fear of being identified. Professionals involved in child health and education should become acquainted with the contents and implications of the new legislation and ensure that the principle of the right of access to health educational and social services, irrespective of the administrative position of the parents, as well as the principle of the superior interest of the child, are applied in all circumstances. Regional legislation can help improve and clarify the contents of national laws.