UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, was pleased to co-host a national roundtable focused on strengthening guardianship systems for unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) in Bulgaria on 21 May. The event brought together key stakeholders, including national authorities, civil society representatives, and child protection professionals, for an open dialogue on enhancing the legal and institutional frameworks supporting UASC.
The roundtable was jointly organized by UNHCR, the Council of Europe, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), and the European Guardianship Network, with the support of the EU Asylum Agency and UNICEF.
Taking place in the context of Bulgaria’s national implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, the event provided a timely opportunity to address longstanding gaps in the protection of unaccompanied children, particularly in light of increasing arrivals. In 2024 alone, more than 2,600 unaccompanied children applied for asylum in Bulgaria, underscoring the urgent need for a robust, child-centered guardianship system.
„An effective guardianship system is critical for protecting them from abuse and exploitation, including trafficking in human beings”, stated Bulent Peker, Deputy Representative of UNHCR in Bulgaria. UNHCR stressed that guardians must be vetted, trained, and monitored – and crucially, appointed immediately upon the child’s arrival – as required by the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
UNHCR proposed the establishment of a national working group to assess the feasibility of implementing effective guardianship models that respond to Bulgaria’s specific context. UNHCR defined this as a significant step forward in safeguarding the rights and well-being of Bulgaria’s most vulnerable children. While there is no one-size-fits-all model, what matters most is having a system that truly serves the best interests of the child. Legislation must be enabling—not restrictive—and offer the flexibility to adapt to each child’s unique needs.
The roundtable concluded with broad consensus on the need for urgent progress and continued collaboration to ensure unaccompanied children in Bulgaria receive the protection and care they need and deserve.
Photo credit: © UNHCR/Dobrin Kashavelov
Сподели във Файсбук Сподели в Туитър
