@ Chrysoula Patsou
Today, the Special Secretary for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Heracles Moskoff, and the UNHCR Representative in Greece, Maria Clara Martin, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. The agreement aims at renewing and strengthening joint efforts to protect and safeguard the rights of unaccompanied and separated children in Greece, in line with their best interest.
The UN Refugee Agency and the Special Secretariat have been working very closely since early 2020. A concrete result of this cooperation has been the establishment and operation. since April 2021, of the National Emergency Response Mechanism (NERM), a pioneering initiative that has managed to trace and offer safety to thousands of unaccompanied refugee children who were homeless or lived in a precarious environment. UNHCR has committed to continuing supporting the Mechanism’s operation until it is smoothly handed over to the Greek State in 2023.
“UNHCR has been a consistent and reliable partner in the planning and implementation of activities in the framework of the National Strategy for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors. The operation of the NERM has put an end to the practice of protective custody, contributing effectively to the tracing, assessment of their best interests and immediate provision of protection and care for over 3,500 unaccompanied children who lived in precarious conditions”, said Mr. Moskoff at the signature event.
“The mutual commitment to defend the fundamental rights of children, and particularly of unaccompanied minors, consolidates our cooperation both in the field of capacity building for professionals who work with children and the support of the Special Secretariat’s personnel through the deployment of qualified and experienced staff”, the Special Secretary added.
The agreement signed today also paves the way for the establishment of a national accreditation system to train and certify child protection professionals in applying harmonized procedures to determine the child’s best interests, in accordance with international standards and guidelines. To this end, UNHCR will provide expertise and technical assistance to the Special Secretariat, in cooperation with the European Union Agency for Asylum.
@ Chrysoula Patsou
“We are grateful for the continuous fruitful cooperation with the Special Secretariat, which has contributed to an improved protective environment for children who arrive alone in Greece. As challenges persist, we are committed to continuing supporting State efforts to address the diverse needs of these vulnerable children and offer them a safe space where they can grow and thrive”, said Ms. Martin.
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