Number Of Unaccompanied Minors Research Articles

Unaccompanied Minors in Greece and Italy: An Exploration of the Challenges for Social Work within Tighter Immigration and Resource Constraints in Pandemic Times

The number of unaccompanied minors (UAMs) arriving in the European Union (EU) has been increasing dramatically over recent years resulting in the formulation of EU policy directives around safeguarding and well-being. Notably, the majority of UAMs enter Europe irregularly through two main gateways to the European continent: via Italy, using the Central Mediterranean Sea route; or through Greece, transiting through the Eastern Mediterranean route from Turkey, mostly via sea. Profiles of UAMs travelling via the two different routes are significantly diverse, reflecting Italy’s and Greece’s geographical proximity to North Africa and the Middle East, respectively. Although Italy has witnessed a decline since 2018 (Todaro and Romano 2019), the two countries have faced a significant increase in UAMs, and this has required a considerable reorganisation of the reception systems and, more generally, of their welfare systems. However, difficulties in securing adequate reception for UAMs seeking protection have persisted in both countries. Through an analysis of the impact of the pandemic on the Italian and Greek reception systems and social interventions with UAMs, we utilised a multiple embedded case study approach within a comparative analysis, to identify key changes in the main services which should be guaranteed to minors—namely, hosting/housing, guardianship, foster care, family/relatives reunification, school integration, language, job training for care leaving, and preparation for leaving care after 18 years (Di Rosa 2017; Buchanan and Kallinikaki 2018; Barn et al. 2020). Against a background of critical reviews of the main issues related to policies and reported social work practice in a context of COVID-19 precarity, set within a wider EU framework, this paper contributes to the literature with an analysis of the current situation and the tightening of the conditions of reception, inclusion and integration that await UAMs in these gateway countries today. We conclude that with the suspension of key services and amenities, and with a practical halt to the due process of immigration and asylum, social workers are facing a difficult challenge to prevent the deterioration of UAMs’ mental health and well-being.

Complexities in the Case Management of Unaccompanied Minors: Perceptions of Social Workers Practicing in the Polokwane Child and Youth Care Centres

Post-apartheid South Africa has become a preferred destination for migrants and refugees from across different parts of the globe, particularly the African and Asian continents. The influx of foreign nationals into the country has contributed to an increase in the number of unaccompanied minors as they either travel alone or become separated from caregivers or parents once they entered the country. This situation has complicated the management aspects of the cases of unaccompanied minors at the local level. The purpose of this article is to explore the experiences of social workers in the management of the cases of unaccompanied minors in the Children and Youth Care Centers (CYCCs) in Polokwane area. Qualitative data were collected by employing face-to-face interviews as well as observation techniques and data were analysed applying qualitative thematic approach. The finding highlights that most of the unaccompanied minors were in dire need and lack proper documentation. It was also revealed that a number of perilous child protection challenges existed in the management of the cases of unaccompanied minors. A limited capacity of social workers, lack of intersectoral integration and collaboration, and insufficient allocation of resources to tackle the multiple dilemmas that affect unaccompanied minors in the CYCCs. It is concluded that despite the solid international legal framework and South Africa having a relatively well developed legal and policy framework governing child protection, there are a number of critical child protection gaps that exist in terms of the implementation of these frameworks for unaccompanied or separated foreign children by government officials.

Protección de los menores extranjeros no acompañados en la Unión Europea

El objetivo de este artículo es identificar y dar a conocer las normas del derecho internacional y del derecho de la Unión Europea (UE) acerca de la protección de los menores extranjeros no acompañados solicitantes de asilo (véase la Directiva 2011/95/UE del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo de 13 de diciembre de 2011), a fin de dar un poco de luz sobre el tema de la protección de los menores extranjeros no acompañados que llegan al territorio de la UE. La cuantía y la naturaleza de la emigración de los menores de edad no acompañados que solicitan protección varían de un Estado a otro. El valor de esta investigación es abordar el estudio de la manera en que durante los últimos años se ha incrementado el número de menores no acompañados que emigran a alguno de los Estados miembros de la UE, indocumentados y sin tener en cuenta las normas de extranjería de los Estados que la conforman. El trabajo concluye que, a pesar de las deficiencias de la normativa comunitaria en lo que respecta al control y la falta de competencia comunitaria para proteger al menor extranjero no acompañado, la UE debe hacer prevalecer en todo su territorio el interés superior del menor.

Broken Systems: The 2014 Humanitarian Crisis in the Us and Policy Insights for Europe

Both the US and Europe are grappling with migration systems in need of reform and repair. The US has made several attempts towards a comprehensive reform of its immigration system, but partisan divides stand in the way. With large numbers of migrants and asylum seekers coming to Europe, EU leaders have been forced to address the broken Dublin system. It has become clear that the current refugee crisis is not just a European crisis. The US has also been facing a humanitarian crisis, one less noticed by Europeans. With an unprecedented number of unaccompanied minors trying to make their way to the US from Central American countries, the US–-like Europe–-is tasked with balancing humanitarian protection and border control requirements. In response, the US has employed policy responses to bring down the number of unaccompanied minors. These measures can provide insights for Europe.

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Refugee Children in Sweden: An Outlook on Demography, Education and Employment

The number of unaccompanied minors has increased over the past ten years in Sweden, the European country that receives the most children from this group. Some of them emigrate after a period of time in Sweden, but the vast majority stay. Most of the arriving children are teenage boys who have not yet turned 18. However, the largest increase over the latest years is observed for the younger age groups. Furthermore, gender composition is also age dependent, where it is quite balanced for the younger age groups unlike the oldest age group. In the years following their arrival, most of them are enrolled in schools. When it comes to those aged 20 or over, the proportion undergoing education is higher among women but a higher proportion of men are employed. The group that neither works nor studies is much larger among women than among men.

Legal Status of the Refugees in India

India is not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol and does not have a national refugee protection framework. However, it continues to grant asylum to a large number of refugees from neighbouring States and respects UNHCR's mandate for other nationals, mainly from Afghanistan and Myanmar. While the Government of India deals differently with various refugee groups, in general it respects the principle for holders of UNHCR documentation.For some time now, India's concerns about security have had a more restrictive impact on asylum space in the country. Mixed migration flows have further complicated the identification and protection of refugees and UNHCR has significantly modified and increased its registration activities to cope with this and provide the necessary support to the Government. In the absence of a national legal and administrative framework, UNHCR, based in New Delhi, conducts refugee status determination (RSD) for asylum-seekers from non-neighbouring countries and Myanmar. UNHCR also has a presence in Chennai, Tamil Nadu in the south to support the voluntary repatriation of Sri Lankan refugees. Although India has a large population of stateless people, no accurate estimates of the number are available. UNHCR is working to identify and map stateless groups.The Government of India's approach to refugee issues results in different standards of protection and assistance among refugee groups. Tibetans and Sri Lankan refugees are protected and assisted by the Government, while UNHCR is directly involved with groups arriving from other countries (notably Afghanistan and Myanmar). Holders of documentation provided by UNHCR are able to obtain temporary residence permits from the authorities. However, the rise in the number of these refugees and asylum-seekers has not been accompanied by a commensurate increase in resources, compelling UNHCR to find innovative ways to meet both existing and emerging protection needs. Refugees and asylum-seekers often live in poverty, dispersed in urban areas, where they can face violence and exploitation. They do not have the legal right to work, but are able to find low-paid employment in the informal job market. Women and children appear to be at increasing risk of gender-based violence, partly as a result of sharing living space with strangers, due to rising accommodation costs. The number of unaccompanied minors approaching UNHCR has risen sharply. Child labour among refugee and asylum-seeking children is not uncommon, and is a serious protection concern. The number of refugees considering return to Sri Lanka is gradually increasing. Individual voluntary repatriation assistance is provided pending the establishment of organized return movement.