With funding from the European Refugee Fund 

Daphne: With financial support from the European Commission, Daphne III

 

 

 

With financial support from the European Commission, Daphne III. The sole responsibility for the content lies with the Separated Children in Europe Programme

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Programme Aims

The Separated Children in Europe Programme's aims and goals

The vision of the Separated Children in Europe Programme is that the rights of all separated children entering or travelling across Europe will be realised; in particular, they will be protected, their well-being and development will be promoted, they will have opportunities to develop their full potential and they will participate in a meaningful way in the development of policies and practices that impact upon their lives.

The Programme's overall aim is to promote a greater recognition and realisation of the rights of separated children and to support the raising of standards in all policies, practices and services that impact upon them.

To realize the vision, the Separated Children in Europe Programme aims to bring about real and lasting change to the lives of the separated children.

There are many issues that relate to the denial of the rights of separated children within Europe. However the SCEP network has decided to prioritize and focus on 6 thematic objectives during 2009-2013:

  1. All separated children must be offered the appointment of a guardian whose duties and status will fully comply with the programme's Statement of Good Practice (SGP)
  2. The detention of separated children will cease
  3. The Dublin II Regulation will be applied in a flexible way so as to secure outcomes in all instances that are consistent with the best interests of the child. If this cannot be achieved the Regulation should be withdrawn from force
  4. Age assessment processes will comply with both the spirit and the practice outlined in the programme's SGP
  5. States will draw up, implement and adequately resource strategies aimed at the prevention of trafficking of children and the provision of adequate care and protection for child victims of trafficking. All separated children who are trafficked must be seen as children and as victims rather than criminals; their welfare must be safeguarded and promoted
  6. The return and reintegration of separated children will only take place where this can be demonstrated to be in the child's best interest, having taken into account the views of the child as outlined in the CRC (and will be consistent with the programme's position paper on this matter).

 Separated Children in Europe Programme will realize the 6 objectives by striving to:

  • Raise awareness of relevant issues and their impact upon separated children.
  • Inform and influence relevant policy makers, at both national and European level, on the impact of their policies and practices upon separated children.
  • Enhance the skills and knowledge base of relevant practitioners and inform the development and delivery of direct services in regard to both the protection and well being needs of separated children.
  • Listen to, empower, and involve separated children in the development of our work.
  • Create, develop and support 6 thematic working groups that reflect the objectives.