The Commissioner has said children in Northern Ireland who are homeless or seeking asylum are dealing with persistent breaches of their human rights.
“Time and time again we are hearing of children being placed in temporary accommodation because of flawed, short-term policies,” Chris Quinn said.
“In addition, this is causing them to leave school because their commute is impossible.”
The Commissioner continued: “No child should have to live in a hotel, or hotel-type accommodation because they are totally unsuitable and breach a wide range of children’s rights.
“Temporary accommodation can be dangerous; it can exacerbate trauma and it can cause long-term harm to health and development.
“This type of displacement is restricting children’s access to essential services such as education, further infringing upon rights and destabilising children’s lives, thereby potentially impacting their mental health in the long term.
The Commissioner continued: “It is imperative that risk assessments and children’s rights impact assessments are carried out when placing children as well as for all children currently in hotel-type accommodation to mitigate adverse outcomes.
“There is an inherent (and indeed legislative) need for relevant authorities to collaborate in devising strategic and sustainable frameworks, policies, and solutions for these matters.
“Everyone has rights, and these rights are applicable to children regardless of their backgrounds.
“The right to an adequate standard of living extends further than housing – it’s somewhere to live where you feel safe and in peace.”