11
May
2020

Relocating unaccompanied children: applying good practices to future schemes

In recent years, thousands of girls and boys have reached Europe without their parents, and sought international protection. Many of them experienced violence, abuse and neglect in their home countries, and while in transit. They have the right to be protected in line with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the European Convention on Human Rights, and European Union law. This report explores the challenges and good practices gathered in the implementation of such relocation programmes. Based on information FRA collected in 10 EU Member States, it aims to help national authorities to support the relocation of unaccompanied children by taking measures that are fully rights compliant and practically feasible.
Overview

As arrivals increased at the European borders, some of the EU Member States receiving them could not adequately provide for their rights. As a measure of solidarity, since 2015, almost 1,400 unaccompanied children have been transferred from the Member State of arrival to another EU Member State under different relocation arrangements.