The health risks faced by refugee and migrant children, More than 1.3 million children have made their way to Europe since 2014, fleeing conflict, persecution and poverty in their own countries. They include at least 225,000 children travelling alone – most of them teenage boys – as well as 500,000 children under the age of five. In 2019 alone, almost 32,000 children (8,000 of them unaccompanied or…, Rising to the challenge: the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative, EU health In response to this challenge, the European Union Directorate General for Health and Food Safety is working with UNICEF to help ensure that refugee and migrant children and their families have access to quality health care and essential  health information in six countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Serbia and…, Strengthen the capacity of national authorities, to deliver health care to refugee and migrant children, including immunizations, mental health and psychosocial support, gender-based violence prevention and response, as well as maternal and newborn health care and nutrition counselling., Increase health literacy among refugee and migrant children, by providing information to safeguard their own health and help them make right decisions about their health and wellbeing, and medical interpreters and cultural mediators to support communication between children and families and health care providers., Strengthen the implementation of health policies, by, for example, increasing the number of health workers with the skills and knowledge to support refugee and migrant children who need health care. “This collaboration between the EU and UNICEF will ensure better access for the most vulnerable refugee and migrant children to vital health care, and to the support they need for their emotional, as…, Voices from the field, Newsletters, RM Newsletter January 2021 UNICEF ECARO RM Newsletter June 2021 UNICEF ECARO The content of this webpage represents the views of the author(s) only and is his/her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency or any other body of the…

Action for children, UNICEF works for and with children and young people across 21 countries and territories in Europe and Central Asia (ECA). This is a Region with resources to meet the needs of every citizen. Yet, too often, the poorest children –those living with disabilities, those who are refugees and migrants, and those from ethnic minorities – are left behind.…, thriving, learning, protected and participating, in the world around them.Yet in Europe and Central Asia, too many children are still left behind. It is only by reaching the most vulnerable children that countries across the Region will achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.   Thriving strategic goal icon., Thriving, Every child learns, Learning, Every child is protected, Protecting, Every child has a chance, Participating, Thriving, for every child, good health, Priority goal, By 2021: Every country in the Region has 95 per cent of its children at national level, and at least 80 per cent in every district, vaccinated with diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP 3) or the Penta vaccine, which protects children against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)., SDG 3 (ensure healthy lives) target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including effective, quality and essential medicines and vaccines for all., David Bielik, 1.2 y.o., is held by his father Bohdan, as he receives his first dose of MMR vaccine UNICEF/UN0302002/Filippov, The facts, Half of all deaths among children under the age of five in the Region occur in the first month of life. 400,000 children under the age of one have not received the recommended three doses of DTP vaccine, and immunization rates are falling because of system failures and vaccine hesitancy. Less than 30 per cent of Roma children are…, UNICEF in action, We help governments strengthen their health systems, including the skills of health workers, while mobilizing public demand for good health care. We help governments transform care for newborns so they have the healthiest start in life. We help governments procure vaccines and support national immunization campaigns to tackle…, Learning, for every child, a quality education, Priority goal, By 2021, 700,000 girls and boys who would have otherwise been out of school are enrolled in high quality, inclusive pre-primary, primary and secondary education., SDG 4 (quality education for all) target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.,   Турция. Ученица 1-го класса школы, функционирующей при поддержке ЮНИСЕФ, заглядывает через плечо рисующей соседки по парте. UNICEF/UN158166/Noorani, The facts, 5.8 million children and adolescents, typically aged 5 to 17, are out of school across the Region. Only 60 per cent of children, typically aged 3 to 5, are enrolled in pre-primary schooling. Of the estimated 5.1 million children with disabilities in the Region, only 1.5 million are registered as having a disability, and only 15 per cent of these…, UNICEF in action, We work with partners to expand access to quality pre-schooling so that all children arriving at primary school are ready to make the most of their education . We aim to make all schools inclusive, helping to increase the number of children and adolescents with disabilities who attend regular schools. We support monitoring to identify children who…, Protecting, for every child, safety from harm, Priority goal, By 2021, zero children in institutional care in the Region., SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) target 16.2: end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.,   Jeta, 24, and Fabliona, age 4, play in a park in Tirana UNICEF/UN0220726/Babajanyan VII Photo, The facts, Around 664,000 children in the Region are growing up in institutional care - this is more than five times higher than the global average. Around 50 per cent of the children and adolescents in institutional care in the Region are living with disabilities. Most unaccompanied migrant and refugee children are hosted in sub-standard reception…, UNICEF in action, We work with governments to prevent family separation , support outreach to vulnerable families to catch problems before they escalate, and develop community-based services to address the complex needs of children and families. We help governments to systematically increase the number of qualified professional social workers and expand services…, Participating, for every child, a voice, Priority goal, By 2021, 20 million adolescents in the Region, including the most vulnerable, have a chance to be connected, engaged and empowered., SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) target 16.7: ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.,   On 29 June 2016, young people participate in the launch of a Small Grants Programme for active young citizens in Slovyansk UNICEF/UN050224/Hetman, The facts, 2.7 million adolescents of lower and upper secondary age are not in school, with those who feel unwelcome and excluded most likely to drop out. In Bulgaria and Romania, over 70 per cent of young people, aged 16 to 30, say they feel excluded from economic, social and democratic life. In Ukraine, only around half of all girls and boys, aged 15, see…, UNICEF in action, We support the creation of legislation, policies, partnerships and programmes that recognize adolescents as one of the Region’s greatest assets. We work to shift attitudes and social norms that under-value adolescents, aiming to amplify their voices and their influence. We help to build the skills, confidence and abilities of adolescents so that…

The COVID-19 pandemic is taking an unprecedented toll on children and families, There is abundant evidence that children bear a heavy burden resulting from disrupted essential services, increased social isolation, and loss of family income. In pandemic times, parents and caregivers are more likely to feel overwhelmed with providing stimulation and care for their young children and delay seeking prompt medical attention for…, strengthen national health, education, early childhood development, and child protection systems to ensure continuity in the provision of core services for vulnerable children and their families in the immediate and the longer-term recovery response to COVID-19., The initiative is being implemented in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo* [1] , Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey.  , Action and impact, Child is playng a game on ipad and learning about online safety. 10 November 2021 -, UNICEF Albania, will reach to 400 children and 100 parents and ensure that they have access to a mobile, “digital literacy and online safety curricula”,  and know about the,  , importance of mental health and where to seek support., Social worker is responding to a call to support parent in Montenegro. 30 October 2021 -, UNICEF Montenegro,   launched the toll-free telephone number 080 888 888, to support parents who are facing numerous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic., Father reads book to his son. 29 June 2021 – In, Montenegro, , UNICEF’s   #ParentChat programme teaches Mums and Dads, positive parenting techniques that help in stressful times., On 15 July 2020, a caregiver hugs a three-year-old girl at Hana and Rozafa, a state-run residential centre in Tirana, the capital city of Albania. 6 October 2021 -, UNICEF Kosovo* , and University in Prishtina in partnerships with the European Union signed a new agreement : To, improve access to mental and psycho-social health services, for children Sanela runs the phoneline service, which was launched as one of the services within the “Mladost” Children’s Home in Bijela. 3 August 2021 – In, Montenegro, , within the project a universal SOS phoneline is set up to, provide professional counselling and assistance to children and young people., A baby girl receives her vaccination at a clinic in Serbia. 5 July 2021 – In, Bosnia and Herzegovina, , UNICEF and EU support is helping parents to keep their, children’s vaccination  , schedules, up to date. , How UNICEF and EU will support children and families, The European Union’s contribution of €5 million will help to ensure the continuity and quality of essential services in a context of epidemiological restrictions, while building durable national capacities that deliver quality services for children and families. The work at local level is aligned with the national needs and priorities and includes:, Strengthening the continuity of essential health and nutrition services and capacity of health service professionals., Activities will include research and analysis, technical support to ensure community of essential services and commodities, support for development of national guidelines and innovative platforms that enable parents to access information on newborn care, breastfeeding, nutrition and immunization, as well as capacity building of…, Strengthening the continuity of child protection services and capacity of social work and social service professionals, to better identify and respond to the needs of vulnerable children and families by creating access to child protection services and   mental health and psycho-social counselling., Strengthening education services through capacity development of, teachers in delivering quality and inclusive learning through digital learning for all children. Support will include developing teacher training, guidance, adapting inclusive high-quality teaching materials to local languages, and capacities of and providing advice to policy framework to improve the effectiveness and quality of distance learning., Supporting early childhood development (ECD) services and the capacity of ECD professionals., Emphasis is placed on expanding and improving the quality of tools and digital resources and that support children, their caregivers, and wide range of ECD practitioners. Innovative solutions will include, for example, online learning platforms for pre-school children and for children with developmental difficulties, and a smartphone app that can…, Expected results, Over this two-year initiative, across the Western Balkans and Turkey Continuation of vaccination services during COVID-19. 78,500 children and 84,000 caregivers will benefit from the continuation of essential maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition services. Girl is attending the centre to continue her education during COVID-19 pandemic.…, * , This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence   This website was created and is maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office and do…, Contact for more information, Ivelina Borisova, Regional Adviser, Early Childhood Development

The challenge, Refugee and migrant children – some travelling with their families, some alone – risk everything, even their own lives, in search of a better life. Millions of uprooted families flee their homes to escape conflict, persecution and poverty in countries including Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Sudan.  When children and young people feel that…, Resources, These resources on emergencies represent just a small selection of materials produced by UNICEF and its partners in the region. The list is regularly updated to include the latest information.  Refugee and Migrant Children in Europe in 2019 - Accompanied, Unaccompanied and Separated (2020) - UNHCR, UNICEF & IOM The Palermo Model of Volunteer…, The solution, A roadmap for care and protection, UNICEF has worked with its partners to develop a Roadmap that provides guidelines to improve the care and protection of refugee and migrant children, whether they are travelling alone or with their parents or caregivers.  The Roadmap highlights the need to identify children, register them through child-friendly procedures, and build a relationship…, Tackling the root causes, People have always migrated to flee from trouble or to find better opportunities. Today, more people are on the move than ever, trying to escape from climate change, poverty and conflict, and aided as never before by digital technologies. Children make up one-third of the world’s population, but almost half of the world’s refugees: nearly 50…