Unaccompanied Minors in Germany and Europe – Report from the National Conference in Germany

On 14 June 2018, the German EMN National Contact Point and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) organized the conference “Unaccompanied Minors in Germany and Europe”. The Conference gathered altogether 90 participants including representatives from EU institutions, ministries and agencies as well as non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and international organizations. The Conference was attended by a representative from the Croatian Ministry of the Interior

The Conference was divided into three panels. The first one was devoted to accommodation and care arrangements for unaccompanied minors established since 2015. The panel also covered disappearances of minors, a big problem that is influenced by lengthy procedures for status regulation.

The topic of the second panel was deradicalization and prevention work with unaccompanied minors. The speakers highlighted the importance of counseling and close work with minors, their relatives, teachers and social networks. The representative of the Institute of Islamic Theology at Osnabrück University said that it is crucial to learn and understand more about Islam in order to prevent radicalization.

Finally, the discussion at the third panel ended with experiences from return counseling with unaccompanied minors and young adults, leading to conclusion that all European countries need to harmonize their practices regarding unaccompanied minors.

Official Conference Report can be downloaded from the link below:

Report from the National Conference in Germany

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