The Separated Children in Europe Program (SCEP) is a joint initiative of the International Save the Children Alliance and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The programme is based on the complementary mandates and areas of expertise of the two organizations.
UNHCR’s responsibility is to ensure protection of refugee children and those seeking asylum. The International Save the Children Alliance is concerned to see the full realization of the rights of all children.
The programme aims to realize the rights and best interests of separated children who have come to or across Europe by establishing a shared policy and commitment to best practice at national and European levels. As part of this process the programme is developing partnerships with organizations working with separated children in European countries.
The Statement aims to provide a straightforward account of the policies and practices required to implement measures that will ensure the promotion and protection of the rights of separated children in Europe. The Statement is principally informed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and two documents: UNHCR’s Guidelines on Policies and Procedures in dealing with Unaccompanied Children Seeking Asylum of February, 1997 here referred to as UNHCR Guidelines and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles Position on Refugee Children of November 1996, here referred to as ECRE (Children).
Throughout the Statement are references to relevant international and regional law, policy and guidelines. These are listed in full in Annex II. This is the third edition of the SCEP Statement of Good Practice (SGP). It should be stressed that this is a living document, which reflects the dynamic progression of human rights protection and issues particularly affecting separated children. The SGP is not an exhaustive listing of standards and good practice, but rather a framework for action and advocacy that we may continue to build upon in the future.
In this regard, several contemporary issues will need to be addressed more directly and comprehensively in future revisions of the SGP. These issues of concern include: advocating for the rights of child soldiers, protecting trafficked children and promoting the socioeconomic rights of all separated children including access to vocational training and employment opportunities.
©International Save the Children Alliance and UNHCR
