Unaccompanied migrant children face multiple vulnerabilities as children, migrants and individuals separated from their families. Ensuring their effective protection requires strong co-operation and co-ordination among all actors working in the field of child protection and migration.
A Working Group Meeting on “Strengthening Inter-institutional Coordination in the Protection of Unaccompanied Migrant Children” brought together representatives of public institutions, international organisations and civil society to jointly review the current protection system for unaccompanied migrant children, clarify institutional roles and responsibilities, and strengthen co-ordination mechanisms.
Participants discussed the existing legal and institutional framework in Türkiye, inter-institutional referral and co-ordination processes, and challenges faced in practice. Particular attention was given to identifying gaps that may place children at risk of falling outside protection systems, especially in relation to access to services, follow-up procedures and special circumstances such as return processes and post-disaster service provision.
Through interactive group work, participants mapped the protection process from the identification of an unaccompanied child to referral to appropriate services, while identifying areas requiring stronger co-operation and improved co-ordination.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to ensuring that unaccompanied migrant children in Türkiye can access timely protection, essential services and durable solutions in line with international standards and good practices.
The meeting was organised by the Council of Europe project “Strengthening the protection of unaccompanied migrant children in Türkiye” funded by Sweden.
