Protecting migrant children’s rights

Abstract

This report relates to the training workshop on the protection of migrant children’s rights which is part of an ESRC-funded research project currently led by Dr Ana Beduschi (https://migrantchildren.org/). The event was organised by the University of Exeter in partnership with the NGO Network for Children’s Rights Greece. The workshop was held at their headquarters in Athens on the 28 January 2017. Agenda and training materials (in English and in Greek) available here: https://migrantchildren.org/2016/10/25/upcoming-in-january-2017/ The event was attended by aid workers (frontline workers) providing services in three refugee camps in Athens and by refugee lawyers working for the Network for Children’s Rights and for ARSIS (Greek NGO providing support for children). This workshop emphasised training on legal aspects of the protection of migrant children. It also explored the possibility of developing a vulnerability and best interests tool which would be simple and accessible to frontline workers. Despite the absence of specific official procedure, frontline workers at the NGO Network for Children’s Rights are already conducting a form of best interests of the child determinations in relation to migrant children. Following the workshop and considering their input, we propose a vulnerability and best interests of the child determination tool, which can be used by frontline workers in their daily work.