Inside the asylum procedure for children: researching experiences of young asylum seekers

In recent years the question on how to deal with migration became an extremely important political question. In criminological science a growing interest in the matter can be noticed with the introduction of new theoretical concepts such as "crimmigration". Children who migrate do not seem to escape this "criminalising" approach. However, according to a children’s rights approach, children who migrate are vulnerable and "at risk". That is exactly why they are entitled to special care and guarantees. However, there exists a clear tension between this children’s rights approach
“in the best interest of the child” and the need to find out, through “asylum interviews”, whether the young asylum seeker actually speaks the truth and can remain. Moreover, only little research exists on how asylum procedures with children are conducted. In the same line, it remains very unclear how these procedures and rights are experienced by those directly subjected to them. Therefore,
this research project will, on the one hand, render the asylum procedure visible by observing “asylum interviews” with young asylum seekers. On the other hand, we will collaborate with young asylum seekers in Brussels’ OKAN-classes (for young newcomers who do not speak Dutch). Through art based projects, we will render their experiences visible. These methodological and ethical challenging research methods will bring new scientific insights in (experiencing) asylum procedures and children's rights.