The European Refugee and Migration Crisis went from very high numbers of daily arrivals and quick transit through the Balkans in 2015 to significantly reduced, but ongoing, arrivals and longer stays in Balkans countries in 2016 and 2017. After the EU–Turkey deal came into place in March 2016, over 18,000 children (more than 40% of all arrivals) from Afghanistan, Iraq or Syria have transited through the Balkans, making it the second most travelled migration route to Europe. Closed borders and limited legal options reinforced “irregular routes”, facilitated by smugglers and traffickers, creating the largest “hidden population” of migrants and refugees in Europe.
In the first half of 2017, there were between 7,000 and 9,000 refugees and migrants accommodated in Serbia, of whom 40–50% were children, and around 25% of children were unaccompanied and separated. UASC are extremely vulnerable and at risk of exploitation, neglect, violence and abuse. They are often invisible, hard to identify and reach with traditional services. The existing child protection systems in Serbia are not able to adequately respond to the complex needs of children passing through or staying in Serbia. Prolonged stay of refugee and migrant population in Serbia requires longer–term and sustainable solutions. The existing accommodation options for UASC are inadequate: capacities are limited, and children are placed in accommodation units not appropriate for UASC, often with other adults and without qualified and trained staff to support them.
Save the Children response in Serbia focused on ensuring dignity, protection and humanitarian assistance of the most vulnerable refugee and migrant children and their families through child protection services, education activities, capacity building of government actors and civil society organisations, and advocacy for refugee and migrant children’s rights.
In its operations, Save the Children strongly advocated for family–based care as the most appropriate option for children in line with their best interest, instead of placement in institutional / residential care. Family–based care is of utmost importance for child’s growth, well–being and protection. In the past decade, Save the Children played a key role in deinstitutionalisation programs and social policy reform that led to establishment of foster care system in Serbia.
Together with IRC, Save the Children established a strong partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, and a local partner organization Center for Foster Care and Adoption to promote foster care for UASC. This case study aims to briefly describe the process of developing specialised training package for foster care of UASC, its key components and main lessons learned from the process.
