Supporting Refugee and Migrant Families with Children

In Brest, with support from UNICEF, a child- and family-friendly room has been opened at the Department of Citizenship and Migration. This space is another step toward a more caring and supportive approach to families with children who are navigating relocation, adaptation, and the documentation process in a new country.

The room is designed for families with children — primarily for foreign nationals, but also for Belarusian citizens. In Belarus, refugees and migrants have the right to apply for refugee status, as well as additional or temporary protection. This is often a lengthy process, and staff at the Department of Citizenship and Migration are there to help people through it.

To ensure that parents don't have to leave their children unattended during appointments, a dedicated space is now available for families. Here, parents can speak with specialists in a comfortable setting while watching over their children. Children can play, read, draw, or simply rest while their parents receive the assistance they need. The room is designed to be safe, welcoming, and engaging for children of different ages.

“When we arrived, we didn’t even have chairs or cutlery. We had nowhere to feed our children. It means so much when you're met with kindness and immediately shown where to find the help you need,” shares a mother from Ukraine.

The Department noted that, in addition to consulting on issues like registration, residence permits, and citizenship, thanks to UNICEF's support, staff are also equipped to inform and refer people to services related to education, healthcare, and employment.

“We aim to ensure that everyone who comes here receives as much information and support as possible. It’s not just about paperwork — we’re also contributing to the social integration of foreign nationals,” said a representative of the Department of Citizenship and Migration.

This room has become more than just a space — it is a place of safety and trust for those in vulnerable situations. This is especially important for children, who may experience stress due to relocation, loss of familiar surroundings, and uncertainty about the future.

“Every child deserves to be in a safe and warm environment where they can feel at ease. This is particularly important for those who’ve been forced to leave their homes and face an uncertain future. We hope this supportive space will help them forget their worries, even for a short period of time, while their parents receive the help they need,” said UNICEF Belarus.

Creating child- and family-friendly services is a vital part of UNICEF’s work, as well as that of other UN agencies and national partners, to protect the rights of refugee and migrant children. This kind of support is especially crucial during crises and emergencies, when children are thrown into unfamiliar — and often frightening — circumstances.