Original Language
English
ISBN (PDF)
978-92-9268-485-3
Number of Pages
150
Reference Number
PUB2022/040/EL
Date of upload

30 Aug 2023

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Working with Migrant Children at the Borders of the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom: A Toolkit for Front-line Workers

This Toolkit builds on the outcomes of an international thematic workshop on addressing the needs of migrant children at borders, consolidated with IOM best practices and additional research inputs. Various relevant stakeholders from selected countries participated in the workshop and included law enforcement authorities, border management officials, front-line workers, migrant reception operators, social workers, legal guardians, human rights agencies, international organizations and civil society organizations, among others. Produced under the framework of the MiRAC-funded project, “Contributing to address the needs of migrant children at borders in Europe”, this document serves as a practical guidance tool for addressing the needs of migrant children at the borders of the European Union, as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It was specifically developed to support national authorities and practitioners working in the field of reception at borders, by equipping them with the relevant knowledge, skills and informational resources that would enable them to provide appropriate services.
 

  • Acknowledgements 
  • Foreword 
  • Acronyms
  • Part I
  • 1. Some definitions 
    • 1.1. Are you a front-line worker?  
    • 1.2. What is a border?
    • 1.3. What is border management?
    • 1.4. Who is a child?
    • 1.5. Migrant children’s arrival
    • 1.6. Summary and conclusion 
  • 2. The legal framework 
    • 2.1. A road map to the international legal framework 
    • 2.2. Engaging with different stakeholders towards the realization of the rights of the child in the context of migration
    • 2.3. Summary and conclusion 
  • 3. The rights of the child in the context of migration
    • 3.1. Respecting the rights of the child
    • 3.2. Harmful practices
    • 3.3. Avoiding harmful practices
    • 3.4. Summary and conclusion 
  • 4. The best interests of the child
    • 4.1. Best interests assessment
    • 4.2. Best interests determination
    • 4.3. Summary and conclusion 
  • 5. Vulnerability in the context of migrant children and international borders
    • 5.1. What does vulnerability mean in the migration context?
    • 5.2. Where and how vulnerabilities are observed 
    • 5.3. Vulnerabilities at origin, transit and destination
    • 5.4. Vulnerabilities, risks and protective factors
    • 5.5. Practice: Identifying vulnerability
    • 5.6. Vulnerable groups
    • 5.7. From assessing to addressing vulnerabilities
    • 5.8. Summary and conclusion 
  • 6. Case management
    • 6.1. What is case management?
    • 6.2. Who are case managers?
    • 6.3. The case management process at borders, step by step
    • 6.4. Summary and conclusion 
  • 7. Safe spaces
    • 7.1. What is a safe space? 
    • 7.2. Reflection on safe spaces
    • 7.3. Summary and conclusion 
  • Part III
  • 8. Communicating with migrant children at borders: Basic principles of interviewing migrant children 
    • 8.1. The importance of communication
    • 8.2. Key rules for conducting an interview with a migrant child 
    • 8.3. Active listening during interviews
    • 8.4. Other basic principles and techniques
    • 8.5. What not to do in effective interviewing.
    • 8.6. Suggestions on interacting with children: Non-verbal communication
    • 8.7. Summary and conclusion 
  • 9. Understanding child trauma
    • 9.1. What is child trauma?
    • 9.2 Trauma-informed care
    • 9.3. Summary and conclusion 
  • 10. How to manage your stress 
    • 10.1. Stress symptoms
    • 10.2. Personal action plan
    • 10.3. Summary and conclusion 
  • References