©UNHCR/Eva Savvopoulou
The Special Secretariat for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors (SSPUAM), the Representation of UNHCR in Greece and Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences successfully organized on 7 March a conference titled “National Emergency Response Mechanism for the protection of unaccompanied minors: from needs assessment to response“.
The National Emergency Response Mechanism for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors (NERM), which started its operation in April 2021, has effectively contributed to the early identification and safe accommodation of 3,258 unaccompanied children who were previously in precarious living conditions or homeless.
The conference presented the achievements, challenges, and key findings about the NERM, starting from the Panteion University research study on homeless unaccompanied children in Greece, which led to the implementation of the Mechanism, and moving on to the two-year period of its pilot implementation by SSPUAM with the support of UNHCR.
Present at the conference were the Deputy Migration and Asylum Minister responsible for Integration, Sofia Voultepsi, the Special Secretary for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Heracles Moskoff, the Secretary General of Public Health and former Special Secretary for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors, Irini Agapidaki, the Representative of UNHCR in Greece, Maria Clara Martin, and the Professor and Rector of Panteion University, Christina Koulouri. The Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees of the Council of Europe, Leyla Kayacik and the Deputy Director-General in charge of the “Task Force Migration Management” in DG Migration and Home Affairs (HOME), Beate Gminder, welcomed the conference in a video message.
The conference was also attended by representatives of international and European organisations and Embassies, such as the Chief of IOM Mission in Greece, Gianluca Rocco, the Representative of UNICEF in Greece, Luciano Calestini, the Head of the European Asylum Support Office (EUAA) in Greece, Jette Christiansen, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Greece, Stefan Estermann, and the Ambassador of Norway to Greece and Cyprus, Lajla Jakhelln.
The Deputy Migration and Asylum Minister responsible for Integration, Sofia Voultepsi, gave a short welcome address, stating: “Child protection is a long-standing priority for the Greek State. The emergency accommodation facilities constitute further proof that we are improving, by adding new successful actions. Like the successful relocation programme. We are very pleased that every action we take results being a good practice for the whole of Europe and the world. It is no coincidence that the Emergency Response Mechanism will be also presented at the Global Refugee Forum organized by UNHCR at the end of the year.”
The Special Secretary for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Heracles Moskoff, welcomed the participants and the attendees with a brief introduction to the work of NERM, noting the challenges and needs that the Mechanism was called upon to address in order to protect children who were invisible and outside the (care) system, without any access to services. The NERM’s contribution to the abolition of the longstanding practice of protective custody was pivotal.
©UNHCR/Socrates Baltagiannis
©Chrysoula Patsou
©UNHCR/Socrates Baltagiannis
©Chrysoula Patsou
©UNHCR/Socrates Baltagiannis
©UNHCR/Socrates Baltagiannis
©UNHCR/Socrates Baltagiannis
©Chrysoula Patsou
©Chrysoula Patsou
©Chrysoula Patsou
©Chrysoula Patsou
On her part, Maria Clara Martin, UNHCR Representative in Greece, stressed that the Mechanism has drastically changed the way unaccompanied refugee children are cared for in the country, and fostered collaboration between many state institutions, international organizations, and NGOs. She expressed appreciation for the cooperation with the Deputy Minister responsible for Integration and the SSPUAM, including for their efforts to ensure that those unaccompanied children who turn 18 have access to integration opportunities. She also committed to continuing supporting State and other actors’ efforts to address the diverse needs of these vulnerable children and offer them a safe environment where they can grow and where they can thrive.
Maria-Daniela Marouda, Assistant Professor at Panteion University and President of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), referred to the Panteion University research and its added value as it gave homeless unaccompanied children a voice to describe their situation and the risks they face, their needs and their suggestions for measures that can protect and support them. . Using an innovative methodology and based on the best interest of the child, it brought together, with the facilitation of UNHCR, civil society organisations with significant work in the field, as well as key stakeholders. As a result, the recommendations of the research were largely implemented long before the final publication of the research study.
Many institutional and civil society bodies who are key partners and effective actors in the field of child protection for unaccompanied children in Greece participated in the conference and shared their good practices.
You can find the Panteion University research study here.
You can find the NERM’s handbook here.
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