not have sufficient numbers of lawyers on staff to ensure representation for unaccompanied children during the first-instance interview.128 The juvenile prosecutor of Attica region, who is supposed to act as the temporary guardian for unaccompanied children in her region, told Human Rights Watch that she “never heard that an asylum-seeking child is not represented” during the asylum interview. Yet, she clearly did not consider that such representation was part of her mandate.129 The presence of a lawyer during the asylum interview appears to make a significant difference for the interview process. Children who had been represented, in contrast to those who hadn’t, told Human Rights Watch that their interviews with the police were long and that they were able to tell their full stories.130 Asylum Interview With few exceptions, unaccompanied children who had not been represented told Human Rights Watch that the asylum interview lasted approximately 10 to 15 minutes, that they were asked a few questions of a rather general nature and not given an opportunity to fully explain the reasons for their displacement. Many children were ill-prepared for the interview and held the mistaken belief that since they were not asked detailed questions about the reasons for leaving their country it meant they did not have to give such information. Interviewers, furthermore, ask leading questions to elicit statements that asylum applicants came to Greece for economic reasons.131 Sami F., who was 17 at the time of his interview, reported, They asked me what problems I had. I said my father was a farmer and didn’t have land. They asked about my province and district. I told 128 Email correspondence from Alexia Vassiliou, member of the legal assistance unit, Greek Council for Refugees, to Human Rights Watch, July 14, 2008. 129 Human Rights Watch interview with Sylla Papataksiarhi, prosecutor for juveniles, Athens, June 12, 2008. For a more complete discussion on the guardianship system ,see chapter II. 130 Human Rights Watch interviews with Isa P., Nader Q., Volos, June 11, 2008. The care center in Volos for unaccompanied children, run by the Hellenic Red Cross, cooperates with a lawyer who represents unaccompanied children during the asylum interview. 131 See Human Rights Watch, Greece – Stuck in a Revolving Door, p. 97. Left to Survive 46