Today is the last day for Ignacio Packer, secretary general of Terre des Hommes (TDH) who has cycled, ran and kayaked 1,250km from Berlin to Croatia. Nine days for nine principles to create awareness around the Destination Unknown campaign to protect migrant children.

Earlier this year, Ignacio was in Malta to attend the Steering Committee meeting of the Destination Unknown Campaign led by TDH. The Destination Unknown Campaign brings together over 100 member organisations operating in 10 regions of the world and focusing on services and advocacy for the rights of children and youths who are on the move. The meeting was organised by the Maltese NGO Kopin, a Steering Group member of the Campaign and an affiliate of TDH.

Packer started his journey on 1 July and crossed seven countries: cycling from the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to Vienna (650km), running between Vienna and Budapest (300km) and kayaking on the Danube between Budapest and Vukovar, Croatia (300km).

The nine recommended principles for children on the move are:

• Children on the move and other children affected by migration shall be considered children first and foremost and their best interests shall be a primary consideration in all actions concerning them;
• All children have the right to life, survival and development;
• Children have the right to liberty of movement with their state and to leave their state and any other;
• The detention of children because of their parents' migration status constitutes a child rights violation and always contravenes the principle of the best interests of the child;
• Children during all phases of migration shall not be separated from their parents or primary caregivers (unless this is in their best interests);
• No child is illegal - children should be protected against all forms of discrimination;
• Child protection systems shall protect all children including children on the move and children affected by migration;
• Migration management measures shall not adversely affect children's human rights; and
• Children have a right to express their views freely in all matters affecting them and to have their views taken into consideration in accordance with their age, maturity and understanding of the options available.

For further information about Ignacio's challenge and the Destination Unknown Campaign, contact Dominik Kalweit from Kopin on 9940 0407; email: [email protected] or visit www.kopin.org/ignacios-sports-challange