Protection of refugee and migrant children with a special focus on the most vulnerable of them
See what UNICEF is doing in Bulgaria, together with partners
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Every child fleeing their home country because of conflict or war has the right to immediate protection and support to stay safe and overcome the psychological trauma they have experienced.
Some of the most vulnerable refugee children are those who travel without their parents. For them, separation may have happened when they tried to escape or they may be trying to reunite with their families. These are the so-called. "unaccompanied" or “separated” children.
Regardless of the circumstances and reasons why they have separated from their parents, every unaccompanied or separated child has the right to international protection:
- First and foremost, they are children and should be treated as such.
- Secondly, in accordance with The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - children who are temporarily or permanently deprived of their supportive family environment have the right to special protection and assistance.
Since 2017, the number of unaccompanied children seeking international protection in Bulgaria has increased significantly and is currently about 70% of the total number of children applying for international protection.
This trend continued in 2021 with a total of 10,999 applicants registered for international protection in Bulgaria, including 3,733 children.
In 2022, of the 20,407 asylum seekers - 5,141 or 25% were children. A record high number of unaccompanied children (3,348) seeking protection was registered in 2022. In 2023, 22,518 applications for protection were registered in Bulgaria, of which 5,702 children and 3,843 unaccompanied children or 67% of all children seeking protection.
The increase in the number of unaccompanied children further burdens the admission and child protection system, including their access to alternative care and social services.
That is why UNICEF works together with partners to support the child protection system in Bulgaria in meeting the needs of children who have lost their families, their homes, and who are far away from their countries.
UNICEF Bulgaria works to strengthen child protection and reception (прием) systems by enhancing the capacity of national and local authorities to provide protection and care to refugee and migrant children and their caregivers, including unaccompanied children.
Together with the State Agency for Refugees (SAR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Bulgaria, UNICEF has established a third Safe Zone in the largest Registration and Reception Center in Harmanli. The area can accommodate 98 children with the possibility of increasing capacity in the event of a crisis. The area has separate rooms for girls and children with disabilities, two office spaces, dining room and living room.
