Separated Children in Europe Programme

In striving to achieve this overall aim the Separated Children in Europe Programme (SCEP) has four key goals:

• To raise awareness among relevant decision makers and practitioners as well as civil society about the situation of separated children and the need to protect their rights;
• To influence existing and emerging legislation and policy by advocating for the rights of separated children at both the national and European levels;
• To develop the skills necessary for effective, rights based work with separated children and to increase the knowledge base of relevant practitioners through exchanges of good practice, training and capacity building; and
• To increase the recognition of and consideration given to the views of children as well as the meaningful participation of separated children and to empower them to contribute actively in processes that affect them.

To achieve these goals, the programme has employed a number of strategies.

• Development of Statement of Good Practice - provides a structured and comprehensive set of principles giving a common standard for work across all countries. The Statement has been translated into a number of languages to encourage its widespread dissemination and use.
• Development of Programme network - establishment of a pan-European Programme network, comprising of at least one NGO member from each country and at least one UNHCR contact person responsible for each country, has been considered crucial for the issue is to be addressed effectively at the national and international level. The network aims to enable the exchange of information and experience on lobbying, provide a link with those giving direct support to individual children and assist in the gathering of information.
• Country Assessments - National assessments on the policies and practices concerning separated children seeking asylum have been completed in the 28 countries covered by the programme. Two reports have been completed summarising the contents of the national assessments. One report covers the 15 European Union (EU) States and Norway and provides recommendations for action at EU and national levels. A second report summarises the situation in Central Europe and the Baltic States. Both of these reports can be downloaded from the programme website.
• Advocacy - efforts are being made to ensure that the rights and needs of separated children are included in the EU asylum harmonisation instruments, which are currently being developed. Programme seminars have taken place involving members of the network in order to formulate national and EU level plans, and to foster contacts and communication.
• Training - training seminars introducing the Programme and the Statement of Good Practice as well as training on how to conduct country assessments have taken place. A training guide based on the Statement of Good Practice has been produced. The Training Guide is available for downloading from Publications. Several Training of Trainers workshops on the Training Guide have been held across Europe, including representatives from national governments, UNHCR and non-governmental organisations. Training has taken place in many countries to develop the competence of officials and staff in a wide range of agencies.
• Sharing of information and experience - several Programme conferences and seminars have been held in different European cities in the period 1999-2002 with participation of government officials, UNHCR staff and Network members from the 28 countries covered by the Programme.

The Separated Children in Europe Programme website provides both background information about the programme, as well as links to other resources on the issue.

Children, Rights

According to the Programme, separated children are children under 18 years of age who are outside their country of origin and separated from both parents, or previous/legal customary primary care giver.Some children are totally alone, while others may be living with extended family members or other adults, though these accompanying adults are not necessarily able or suitable to assume responsibility for their care. Separated children may be seeking asylum because of fear of persecution or lack of protection due to human rights violations, armed conflict or disturbances in their own country. They may be victims of trafficking for sexual or other exploitation, or they may have travelled to Europe to escape conditions of serious deprivation. At the same time the programme organisers have found that the treatment they receive upon and after arrival is at best, not adequate and at worst, potentially damaging. The way in which these children are treated when arriving in Europe requires special attention in terms of protection during and after the asylum process and interim care, particularly in the present climate of restrictive asylum and immigration practices.