A Child-Friendly Room for Families at the Citizenship and Migration Office in Minsk

As part of the collaboration between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), a child-friendly room continues to operate at the City Office of Citizenship and Migration in Minsk. The main goal of this room is to create a safe, supportive, and attentive environment for children and their parents who seek assistance in obtaining official status in the country.

In Belarus, refugees, migrants, and people seeking asylum have the right to apply for refugee status, as well as for subsidiary and temporary protection. This is not a quick process, but staff at the Citizenship and Migration Office are there to help navigate it.

To ensure that families do not have to leave their children unattended, a dedicated room for families with children has been established at the Office. Here, parents can comfortably meet with specialists while keeping an eye on their sons and daughters. The space is equipped with various amenities for children, including games, books, toys, and creative materials suitable for different age groups. This initiative is essential to demonstrate to children that they are safe and that this is a secure place for temporary stay.

Belarusian families can also make use of the room at the Citizenship and Migration Office.

The special room has been in operation for over a month now. During this time, it has been utilized by more than 50 individuals from other countries. A similar child-friendly space is already functioning in the Gomel region's Department of Citizenship and Migration. Furthermore, plans are underway to establish similar facilities with the support of UNICEF in other regions of the country.

"We receive many parents with children. With this room available, all processing procedures are completed more quickly and efficiently. Therefore, we are pleased that such child-friendly spaces have already opened in Gomel and Minsk, and will be established in other cities as well. Addressing migration issues is certainly easier when collaborating with international organizations," noted the Department of Citizenship and Migration of the Main Internal Affairs Directorate of the Minsk City Executive Committee.

Providing child-friendly and family-oriented services is a key component of UNICEF's extensive efforts in Belarus, alongside other UN agencies and national partners, aimed at protecting the rights of refugee and migrant children and responding to emergencies. The country places significant emphasis on the well-being and protection of migrant and refugee children.

"Every child deserves to be in a safe environment where they can feel comfortable. This is especially true for children who are experiencing stress due to moving to a new place. We hope that through play, children will feel secure and temporarily forget their worries while their parents receive assistance from the Office," commented UNICEF in Belarus.