With regard to the looming and forced closure and demolition of part of the ‘Calais Jungle’ refugee camp, including the Kids Cafe.

In a few days, the French government may demolish part of the camp, including the cafe, pending the outcomes of an appeal ruling, to be given by Judge Valerie Quemener, sitting at the French administrative court in Lille.

Whatever the outcome of the ruling, we, the undersigned, firmly object to any forced closure and demolition of any part of the camp, based on domestic, European, and international Human Rights law.

The Kids Cafe provides more than 200 meals a day, as well as English and French classes, a safe space, a library, art classes, and the right to play for displaced children and unaccompanied minors..

As human rights, humanitarian, refugee, medical, migration and development professionals and ngos, we call on French and British governments, to:

1. Reject the ruling - in the event demolition is granted.

2. Provide additional resources and funding to the Calais camp and Kids’ Cafe.

3. Work with Camp staff and humanitarian organisations, to improve living conditions and access to food, water and medical treatment.

4. Work together, more proactively, to arrange more suitable and habitable accommodations, for camp residents.

5. Enact the Dubs Amendment to rehome unaccompanied minors in either France or the UK, with extended families, in social care systems, or foster and adoptive families.

6. Comply with the relevant laws and protect the fundamental Human Rights of the approximate 200 children and young people, who will be directly affected by its demolition.

Both the British and French governments have a legal duty (and obligation) to comply with local and international laws, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Children (Article 2 - 41).

In the case of the British Government, the Dublin Convention also applies, but has not yet been enacted, and thus, means the British government, is in breach of Human Rights law, including the UNCRC.

In addition, it is believed that ‘the’ refugees resident at the ‘Calais Jungle’ have, inter alia, the right to ‘protected status’, as stateless persons.

This definition is, without prejudice or obfuscation to, applicable to such laws, in accordance with and under Article 10, 13, 17 - 24, 27, 31, of the Refugee Convention and Article II of the 1967 Protocol.

Failure to protect such rights, by either the French or British governments, will result in a further legal challenge to the European Courts and the International Court of Justice.