For three months, around sixty young people have occupied the Place de la Bastille day and night. Volunteers from the association helping exiles Utopia 56 took over an unoccupied space in the square to set up thirty gray and blue tents. They are “children before being migrants”, recalls the association on a sign posted in full view of all. Surrounded by barriers, the camp is overlooked by a sign that is updated every day. This Thursday, passers-by can read “minors on the street for 90 days”.
These young people have been denied access to child protection. Everywhere in France, the department must be responsible for establishing whether the young exiles are indeed minors. A competence delegated to the association France Terre d’Asile in Ile-de-France. And during their appeal to the children’s judge, it is Utopia 56 which comes to their aid, knowing that the procedure can last two to three months, according to the volunteers of the association.
“We organized this event because we are on the ground every day with unaccompanied minors, sums up Luc, head of the Utopia 56 in charge of minors. There are few structures to take care of them and we are asking for the opening of a suitable center or the creation of new places in the existing structures. »
“We must be taken off the streets”
“One day, my older brother told me to pack my bag,” says Dosdo, a 16-year-old unaccompanied minor. Shortly after losing his father, the young man decided to follow his brother on a perilous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea, to reach France from the Ivory Coast. With wet eyes, he says he finished the trip alone. For three months, Dosdo has been sleeping on the sidewalks of the Parisian capital, in a tent provided by Utopia 56. “I’m not going to say that I’m sorry, I’m here that’s how it is,” he says. Heard by the association France Terre d’Asile, after his arrival in France, he hopes to be able to benefit from child protection. “All I want is to be able to follow a training and learn”, confides the young man, before adding “I simply wanted to become someone”.
“We have to be taken off the street, asks Ouaééra, a 15-year-old Ivorian who arrived in Paris last week. Living on the street leads to stealing, joining gangs and that’s not what we want. To pass the time and occupy the young people, the volunteers of Utopia 56 organize activities. Boxing lessons and card games are offered in particular to “pass the time and prevent them from wandering around Paris”, explains Salomé, in civic service at Utopia 56. “We work with other associations to bring them legal, medical and psychological help, she adds. Many ask us for French lessons but, for that, it is more difficult to help them. »
“50% of young people finally recognized as minors”
As the sky becomes cloudy, faces grow dull and smiles fade. “There I speak, but at the same time I look up there, confides Dosdo, pointing to the clouds. The only thing I can think of is that it’s going to rain soon. The other young people next to him nod. “When it rains, you can’t sleep at all,” adds Condé. Even in the tent, we are wet. “These young people, “who will probably be recognized as minors, will have slept outside for two or three months, denounces Luc. Nearly 50% of those who are refused after their interview are finally recognized as minors, after their appeal to the judge. »
For this reason, the association calls on the public authorities to create a structure adapted to the reception of young people for the duration of their appeal. “We had a meeting with the town hall of Paris, two weeks after the start of our demonstration on the Place de la Bastille, explains Luc. The town hall said it was in favor of an increase in reception places for these young people, but it passed the buck to the State, saying that they did not have the funding. Contacted, the town hall of Paris and the prefecture of Ile-de-France did not provide answers. The association intends to maintain the camp as long as necessary. “There is no reason to leave as long as there is no guarantee of the opening of a center or more reception places”, assures Luc.