Publication date: 20 June 2023
The Belgian authorities are looking to improve/review the special residence procedure for unaccompanied foreign minors, known as the Best Interest Procedure. In this context, Belgium launched three ad hoc queries to seek information from other Member States on (i) similar residence procedures specifically for UAMs, (ii) procedures followed in case return to the country of origin is considered and (iii) steps taken to implement return decisions.
Read more
Main theme: Vulnerable groups, International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: residence procedure, unaccompanied minors
Publication date: 03 March 2023
The Dutch National Contact Point (NCP) to the European Migration Network launched an ad hoc query on the existing data on unaccompanied minors (UAMs) outside of international protection procedures in other Member Countries. With this query, the Dutch NCP wanted to get a better picture of the total influx of UAMs in a European perspective.
Read more
Main theme: Vulnerable groups, Data & Statistics, International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: unaccompanied minors, data collection
Publication date: 24 November 2022
What measures, structures and systems are in place in the EU Member States and Norway to provide transitional support to unaccompanied minors after reaching the age of majority? This new EMN inform investigates the transition that unaccompanied minors face as they age out of care systems in the EU and Norway.
Read more
Publication date: 25 October 2022
Unaccompanied minors who have little or no perspective of receiving a residence permit within EU Member States, may have co-existing problems such as mental health issues or substance addiction. This ad hoc query examines how EU Member States deal with this specific group and how they could improve the reception and supervision of these young persons.
Read more
Main theme: Vulnerable groups, Reception, International Protection, Irregular Migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: unaccompanied minors, mental health, criminality
Publication date: 09 August 2018
This EMN study focuses on the approaches to Unaccompanied Minors following status determination in the EU plus Norway. The study covers the period 2014-2017, thereby following up on previous EMN research on unaccompanied minors.
Read more
Publication date: 09 August 2018
This Inform summarises the main results of the EMN study on “Approaches to Unaccompanied Minors Following Status Determination in the EU plus Norway”.
Read more
Publication date: 31 January 2015
This is the Belgian Contribution to the EMN focused study on policies, practices and data on unaccompanied minors. Other EMN National Contact Points (NCP’s) produced a similar report on the topic for their (Member) State.
Read more
Main theme: Vulnerable groups, Data & Statistics
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: unaccompanied minors, guardianship, age assessment
Publication date: 03 January 2013
This EMN Inform presents the main developments that took place in 2011 with regard to international protection comprising statistics, the Common European Asylum System, intra-EU Solidarity , external dimension and unaccompanied minors.
Read more
Main theme: Asylum, Vulnerable groups, External Dimension
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: CEAS, resettlement, solidarity, unaccompanied minors
Publication date: 21 April 2011
Study on unaccompanied minors, carried out by the Risk Analysis Unit of FRONTEX. Amongst others, EMN and the Belgian organisation "Payoke" contributed to this study
Read more
Publication date: 30 June 2009
Who are the unaccompanied minors (UMAs) in Belgium? What motivates them to enter and stay in the country? What are the policies on reception, return and integration developed for UMAs in Belgium? This study addresses such questions and contains statistical information on the subject.
Read more
Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: age assessment, guardianship, unaccompanied minors
Publication date:
The Fedasil Pondrôme reception centre will host a photo exhibition featuring the work of unaccompanied and accompanied minors. The images were created over an eighteen-month project led by CIDJ Rochefort–Beauraing. The exhibition provides insight into the daily lives, experiences, and identities of the young participants. The event is free, open to all, and offers an opportunity to meet the creators.
Read more
Main theme: Reception
Keywords: unaccompanied minors, accompanied minors, photo exhibition
Publication date:
The European Court of Human Rights ruled in the case of F.B. v. Belgium, finding that Belgium failed to provide sufficient procedural safeguards in the decision-making process regarding the applicant’s age assessment. The Court concluded that this process violated her right to respect for private life under Article 8 of the European Convention. In particular, it highlighted the lack of informed consent and the failure to explore less intrusive methods before conducting medical tests.
Read more
Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: age assessment, minor, unaccompanied minors, right to respect for private life, bone test, consent, last resort
Publication date:
This conference, organised by the Maltese National Contact Point to the European Migration Network (EMN), aims inter alia to examine ways to strengthen ties between migrant children and host communities and to foster mutual understanding. The inclusion of migrant children in local communities, through education, social work, advisory and community services, will be discussed.
Read more
Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: children, migrant child, unaccompanied minors
Publication date:
The Federal Public Service Justice is currently able to assign a guardian to an unaccompanied foreign minor within the normal period of 8 weeks. However, the demand for guardians remains high in Limburg, Antwerp and Brussels, and the Guardianship Service is still urgently looking for additional guardians.
Read more
Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: unaccompanied minors, guardianship
Publication date:
This meeting will bring together the Ombudspersons for children as well as children welfare and guardianship authorities of EU Member States and other countries to have an open discussion on the specific aspects of the rights of third-country national unaccompanied minors.
Read more
Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: migration of children, unaccompanied minors, guardianship
Publication date:
Today, the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor, the Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden, Fedasil, Child Focus, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons, and the Guardianship Service presented together a guide aimed at preventing and resolving the disappearance of unaccompanied foreign minors.
Read more
Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: unaccompanied minors, disappearance
Publication date:
Fedasil increases the reception capacity for unaccompanied minors. Mid-April 2023, a new center will be set up in the former hotel ‘Lambermont 322’, located along Boulevard Lambermont in Schaerbeek.
Read more
Main theme: Reception
Keywords: unaccompanied minors, reception centre
Publication date:
You are from Liège and you want to give your time to unaccompanied foreign minors? Caritas is looking for volunteers who want to meet them and exchange, either by doing activities or by supporting them at school.
Read more
Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: unaccompanied minors, volunteer
Publication date:
As from 26 March 2015, unaccompanied foreign minors can also qualify for the special protection status when other protection, admission or residence procedures are ongoing.
Read more
Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: guardianship, protection, unaccompanied minors
Publication date:
The UVCW and El Paso invite actors working with unaccompanied foreign minors in various structures (public centres for social welfare, reception centres etc.) to participate in a multidisciplinary training aimed at providing them with adequate knowledge and skills to assist and enpower this group.