This document is a synthesis of current laws, policies and practices related to age assessment in 16
countries in Europe collected by the Members of the Separated Children in Europe Programme ( SCEP) between June and November 2010. The main purpose of the report is to give readers an overview of the various age assessment policies and methods implemented in the selected European countries. It is also meant as a tool for further dialog and research to improve current policies and practice and identify good practices. Age assessment refers to the procedures through which authorities seek to establish the chronological age of an individual. It is applied in a variety of contexts and for a number of different purposes. Separated children may be seeking asylum owing to a fear of persecution or the lack of protection in their own country due to human rights violations, armed conflict or disturbances. They may be seeking other forms of protection because they have been trafficked for sexual or other exploitation, or because they have travelled to or within Europe to escape conditions of serious deprivation or to look for new opportunities and a better life. Many of these will be children without valid identity or residence documents.