When a child is denied minor status in France, they are left without institutional protections—a particularly critical matter for young migrant girls, who are extremely vulnerable while on the move.
In July 2024, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams in Pantin, northeastern Paris, converted a day center for unaccompanied minors into a space exclusively dedicated to the needs of teenage girls left without institutional protections after being denied minor status. Now, after appealing the decision to a children's judge, they are awaiting hearings—a process that can take up to nine months, while they are extremely vulnerable to dangers like sexual violence.
Dona*, a young migrant from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is one of more than 120 young girls the day center has welcomed since it shifted to a space for girls in July 2024. Despite being just 16 years old, an initial assessment contested Dona's underage status. She then appealed to a children’s court judge to be recognized as a minor, and now she is waiting for a hearing. In the meantime, she visits MSF's day center for care and support.
“Here it's better than the street ... we can shower, eat and have shelter from the cold.”
Responding to changing needs among migrants
The idea for the new day center program came about when teams observed an increase in the number of girls arriving in the Ile-de-France region as unaccompanied minors. “There was no place specifically dedicated to them,” said Ali Besnaci, MSF project coordinator in Ile-de-France. “We took the time to support the unaccompanied, underage boys we were looking after before devoting ourselves exclusively to young girls. They all left the MSF program with a fixed address and access to state medical assistance. Other associations and structures have taken over to welcome them.”
The stakes are high for these young migrants: 60 percent of the girls welcomed at MSF’s day center were unhoused at the time they arrived. That was the case for Dona, who spent four nights on the streets when she first arrived in France. Now she holds her breath and breaks down in tears when she recalls that time.
Because the day center is a space exclusively for girls, more girls feel comfortable confiding in others, talking to each other, and showering. It also encourages them to be more open with professionals, although this process can be slow and painful.
Girls are vulnerable to sexual violence
Almost all the girls being cared for at the day center were raped in their countries of origin, and sometimes after they arrived in France. Many suffer from the consequences of genital mutilation; others were forcibly married as children. Sixteen-year-old Gloria*, of Congolese origin, is one of the latter.
“One day I was out, and when I came home I discovered there was a big party going on at home,” Gloria explained. “My cousins told me it was my wedding day. I went to see my big brother, crying and begging him to help me, but he told me there was nothing he could do. After the party, I was forced to follow this man who had become my husband. He was old compared to me: He was about 45 and I was 13. I cried every day."
Soon after the wedding, Gloria was raped. "At first he left me alone, but one day he ended up raping me, and that became a daily occurrence," she said, adding that she had wanted to go back to school, but he refused.
A comprehensive response to numerous needs
A multidisciplinary approach is essential to meet the needs of extremely vulnerable girls on the move. That's why MSF's program is comprehensive, with teams providing the girls with medical, psychological, social, and legal support.
Identifying emergency cases
When each new girl is welcomed to the center, an MSF nurse and midwife immediately offer an initial interview to identify any potential medical or psychological emergencies. During this meeting, the issue of sexual violence is discussed as a priority, so that rapid and appropriate treatment can be offered, including referrals to hospitals if necessary. After the consultation, the MSF team accompanies each girl through the treatment process.
Mental health care
Alongside medical support, an MSF psychologist holds regular individual mental health consultations with girls who request them, like Maria*, 15, who was born in DRC and grew up in Angola, where she was subjected to multiple forms of violence.
“I had never seen a doctor in my life before I came here,” Maria said. “I have scars on my legs because they were scalded by the woman I lived with in Angola. She forced me to go and sell water in the village. One day, I came back after not being able to make any sales. She boiled water and poured it over my legs and feet.”
“It helps me a lot to talk and to be listened to here,” Maria added. “It gives me self-confidence.”
Legal support
There is also a socio-legal team that provides targeted support to young girls to help them obtain recognition of their underage status, and access accommodations and school. Of the young girls under MSF’s care who managed to obtain a hearing before the children’s judge in 2024, 70 percent succeeded in being recognized as minors.
A respite for girls
Teams at the day center also hold individual discussions and workshops to address other needs, covering topics like health education and menstrual hygiene. Most of the girls had never had access to this information before coming to MSF's center. Additional activities are organized with the help of volunteers and partner associations to offer a little respite to these teenagers, most of whom only dream of one thing: to go to school.
*Names have been changed for privacy
