EMN Ireland, the Irish National Contact Point of the European Migration Network (located at the ESRI), together with the UNHCR Ireland, held a half-day conference on Protection of Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children in Ireland and Europe.
Date: Thursday, 27 November 2014
Time: 09:00 – 13:15 followed by lunch
Venue: Bedford Hall, Dublin Castle
The conference addressed the best interests of unaccompanied minors and separated children, in particular in relation to:-
- Entry and assessment measures and border control;
- Asylum procedures;
- Reception and care arrangements; and
- Return and reintegration practices.
Conference Agenda
| 09:00 | Arrival and Registration | |
| 09:30 | Welcome & Opening address: Frances Ruane, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) |
|
| 09:40 | Standards & Guidance in Working with Unaccompanied Minors & Separated Children in Europe Chair: Peter Power, UNICEF |
|
| * Unaccompanied Minors in the EU – European Policy Responses and Research: Valeria Setti, Directorate-General Home Affairs, European Commission (Download presentation) | ||
| * Introducing Safe and Sound: What States can do to respect the Best Interests of unaccompanied and separated children in Europe: Andrea Vonkeman, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Bureau for Europe (Download presentation or listen to audio recording) | ||
| * EASO’s Activities on Children: working towards a common approach at European level: Killian O’Brien, European Asylum Support Office (Download presentation) | ||
| 10:40 | Questions and Answers Discussion | |
| 11:00 | Coffee break | |
| 11:30 | Challenges, Gaps and Practice in Working with Unaccompanied Minors & Separated Children in Ireland Chair: Senator Jillian van Turnhout |
|
| * Unaccompanied Minors in Ireland, 2014: Data, Policies and Practices: Emma Quinn, EMN Ireland / Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) (Download presentation or listen to audio recording) | ||
| * Separated Children: An ORAC Overview: Paraic O’Carroll, Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) (Download presentation) | ||
| * Conceptualising Child Refugees: A review of child-specific forms of persecution considering developments in the international children’s rights law and refugee law frameworks: Samantha Arnold, Trinity College Dublin and Irish Refugee Council (Download presentation or listen to audio recording) | ||
| * The Irish Model of Care & Protection for Unaccompanied Minors Seeking Asylum: Thomas Dunning, TUSLA Child and Family Agency (Download presentation or listen to audio recording) | ||
| * Monitoring, oversight and the best interests principle: Manus de Barra, Ombudsman for Children’s Office (Listen to audio recording) | ||
| 12:45 | Questions and Answers Discussion | |
| 13:05 | Closing Remarks: Sophie Magennis, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Ireland |
|
| 13:15 | Lunch |
Download conference agenda.
