Protección de la infancia

This factsheet examines case law on cross-border child abduction, meaning the unlawful removal of a child from one EU Member State to another. Jointly published by the European Court of Human Rights and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, it explains how courts handle issues where EU law and human rights law overlap. It highlights key court decisions from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) to show how these two legal systems work together on issues of child abduction and prioritising the best interests of the child.

La Agencia de Asilo de la Unión Europea (EUAA) y la Agencia de los Derechos Fundamentales de
la Unión Europea (FRA) han sumado esfuerzos para elaborar una serie de herramientas prácticas
destinadas a tutores y tutoras de niños y niñas no acompañados con necesidades de protección
internacional. Esta serie de herramientas prácticas aborda los siguientes temas: protección temporal; introducción a la protección internacional; procedimiento de asilo; procedimientos transnacionales. Las cuatro herramientas se complementan entre sí.

La Agencia de Asilo de la Unión Europea (EUAA) y la Agencia de los Derechos Fundamentales de la Unión Europea (FRA) han sumado esfuerzos para elaborar una serie de herramientas prácticas destinadas a tutores y tutoras de niños y niñas no acompañados con necesidades de protección internacional. Esta serie de herramientas prácticas aborda los siguientes temas: protección temporal; introducción a la protección internacional; procedimiento de asilo; procedimientos transnacionales. Las cuatro herramientas se complementan entre sí.

Since its initial publication, this handbook has been an important reference for guardianship systems for unaccompanied children across the European Union (EU). It has supported national authorities, practitioners and policymakers in upholding the rights of some of the most vulnerable children, in line with EU law and international standards. This updated edition comes at a pivotal moment. The entry into application of the Pact in June 2026 marks an important step towards a more comprehensive framework for migration and asylum across the Union. It aims to prevent abuse of the asylum system, including through measures addressing misuse of provisions concerning unaccompanied children, and reinforce public trust in its functioning.

This booklet is intended to support guardians assigned to children in the asylum procedure. It covers the technical aspects of the legal procedures related to the cross-border movement of such children. This booklet covers only procedures related to international protection. It is part of a series of four practical tools for guardians of unaccompanied children with international protection needs. The objective is to support guardians in their daily tasks and responsibilities during the asylum procedure, including the procedure under the Dublin III regulation and temporary protection. The tools have been developed by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) and FRA.

Children’s rights exist to ensure the safety and wellbeing of every child. Improved child protection systems ensure that these rights are met. In recent years, the EU has taken significant steps to improve child protection systems. This mapping of child protection systems gives an overview of the state of such systems at national level and developments since 2015. It promotes the improvement of integrated child protection systems. It is an update of FRA’s mapping of child protection systems in 2015, based on data collected in 2023 in the 27 EU Member States. By publishing this, FRA aims to support securing the sustainable well-being, safety and rights of all children living in the EU.

Council of Europe (CoE) and European Union (EU) Member States have an undeniable sovereign right to control the entry of non-nationals into their territory. While carrying out border control, states have a duty to protect fundamental rights of all people under their jurisdiction, regardless of their nationality, status, or age. Children as a category
of vulnerable persons with special needs require heightened protection.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine posed new challenges for the EU. Millions were forced to flee the war. As a result of the scale of people’s displacement, the EU activated for the first time the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD). More than 1.3 million children sought international protection in the EU. This bulletin explores the respect, protection and fulfilment of the fundamental rights of displaced children and ways to safeguard their rights. The third in a series, this bulletin builds on the evidence in FRA’s Bulletin #1 and #2 on the experiences of displaced people seeking safety in the EU.

This manual is designed to help institutions, organisations and individuals to train guardians of unaccompanied children or to deliver ‘train-the-trainers’ courses. It can be used in a range of training contexts, such as professional and academic training, on-the-job training and continuing training. The manual is based on human and fundamental rights principles and ethical standards and recognises that the child and the guardian have their own personal stories, resources and capacities. It enhances guardians’ confidence to promote the child’s rights and best interests. It also enhances their confidence to act independently and impartially in relation to different state
officials, service providers and other community members.