here to Amygdaleza.… I asked how long I would stay but the police said they didn’t know.170 Sixteen-year-old Mohammed W. told Human Rights Watch: “I have been arrested three days ago in Attiki. I’ve been here for three days, and for eight months in Greece. I have been arrested two times so far and spent 16 days in Mitilini detention camp.”171 The repeated arrest and detention of children serves no legal purpose and has a detrimental impact on children’s well-being and safety.172 Greek authorities admit that they can not enforce many children’s deportation because embassies do not cooperate, children’s detention is not in their best interests, and children are rarely ever transferred to care arrangements upon release.173 The practice of routinely and repeatedly detaining unaccompanied children is a violation of Greece’s obligations under international law.174 Invisible Children The failure to carry out proper age and vulnerability assessments means, as discussed in chapter II, that many children in detention are simply not recognized to be children. The practice appears to be so widespread that it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that it is deliberate on the part of the immigration authorities. Even if it is merely a failure of police officers ill-equipped and inadequately trained to work with children correctly, it indicates the systemic failure of the Greek authorities to maintain a functioning protection system. The case of unaccompanied migrant children rounded up in Patras in early 2008 is revealing. 170 Human Rights Watch interview with Sami F., Amygdaleza detention center, June 3, 2008. 171 Human Rights Watch interview with Mohammed W., Amygdaleza detention center, June 3, 2008. An additional testimony of multiple detention was made by 16-year-old Hafez S. 172 See also Greek Ombudsman, “Special Report: Administrative Detention and Deportation of Alien Minors,” October 2005, http://www.synigoros.gr/reports/SR-detention-expulsionOCTOBER-2005.pdf (accessed September 1, 2008), pp. 26-28. The Ombudsman concludes that the detention of children is inappropriate and a disproportionate measure that violates their rights. 173 See chapter VI for a discussion about referral to care. 174 CRC, art. 37. 57 Human Rights Watch December 2008