Protection or Harm? Separated Children on the Atlantic Route and the Balancing of the Right to Family Life Beyond Parenthood and Trafficking Prevention
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The Atlantic migration route to the Canary Islands has become a major entry point for migrant children, including those arriving with adults other than their biological parents. The legal treatment of these separated minors remains insufficiently defined. This article examines their handling considering the right to family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as interpreted by the European Court of Human Rights. It argues that prosecutorial guidelines frame relatives’ decisions to use irregular maritime routes as a per se risk, legitimising separation measures and potentially interfering with de facto family relationships without sufficient individual justification, leading to disproportionate limitations on family life.
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Aceptado 2026-06-15
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