Current discussions on age diagnostics in unaccompanied minor refugees

Since the 1980s the age of persons without valid identification documents is increasingly being assessed by experts in a variety of legal sectors. Since its establishment in the year 2000 the Study Group on Forensic Age Diagnostics of the German Society of Legal Medicine has significantly improved the scientific basis of forensic age estimations by means of recommendations, conferences, proficiency tests and numerous studies by members. Although age estimations in adolescents and young adults in criminal proceedings take place almost unnoticed by the public, critical voices have been raised time after time in relation to age estimations of unaccompanied minor refugees in proceedings under the law on aliens. Arguments put forward in the current debate are discussed.