CHILDREN-FRANCE: Paris Accused of Ignoring Immigrants' Welfare

PARIS, Nov 18 (IPS) - Associations in defence of children's rights are putting the French government on the spot for its disregard of the welfare of the children born to immigrants.

During a meeting with the authorities next week, the French Council of Associations for the Protection of Children's Rights (COFRADE) is expected to bring the government's attention to the perverse effects of severe immigration laws on children's lives.

This year, COFRADE has chosen to assert children's right to live with their families -- a right also of children born to immigrants but which is threatened by France's pursuit of illegal foreigners.

The annual meeting between private organisations and the government marks the adoption by the U.N. General Assembly on Nov. 20, 1989, of the International Convention for the Protection of Children's Rights.

France ratified the Convention in August 1990 and the meeting has been the occasion to monitor the French government's compliance with the treaty.

"I'm afraid that French immigration laws show how France is precisely not respecting its international commitments," said Helene Rubak of the non-governmental organisation CIMADE which extends assistance to immigrants.

According to Rubak, who has been invited by COFRADE to speak on the subject during the meeting on Nov. 21, current French legislation has resulted in "absurd" situations and threatens the growth and development of the children..

On one hand, the laws recognise as French certain categories of foreign children born in France and protect from deportation the children's parents even if they may be illegal immigrants.

However, France's persecution of illegal immigrants has kept authorities from regularising their status and according them the accompanying rights and privileges.

Soon after winning the legislative elections in March 1993, the centre-right government proceeded into severely restricting immigration laws and hardened its pursuit of illegal foreigners.

Attempts by both humanitarian organisations and parents to regularise their status and dialogues with certain government offices have led nowhere, said Rubak.

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