Between Immigration Control and Child Protection: Unaccompanied Minors in Belgium

This article describes the situation of Unaccompanied Minors (UAM) in Belgium, both in terms of their numbers and demographic profile and in terms of their health and educational challenges. It sketches the complex Belgian legal and policy framework that determines the organization and the quality of care and support of this particular group of minors. The paper lists policy outcomes, including the creation of a specialized care system for UAM, a guardianship service and a three phase trajectory of observation, stabilization and supported autonomy for most UAM. It also points to policy shortco... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Katrien De Graeve
Marianne Vervliet
Ilse Derluyn
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2017
Reihe/Periodikum: Social Work and Society, Vol 15, Iss 1 (2017)
Verlag/Hrsg.: Social Work & Society
Schlagwörter: unaccompanied minors / Belgium / reception and care structures / policies of control / children’s rights / Education / L
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-28938731
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : https://doaj.org/article/d68437f76a8344c3978525f5b9fe6dd5

This article describes the situation of Unaccompanied Minors (UAM) in Belgium, both in terms of their numbers and demographic profile and in terms of their health and educational challenges. It sketches the complex Belgian legal and policy framework that determines the organization and the quality of care and support of this particular group of minors. The paper lists policy outcomes, including the creation of a specialized care system for UAM, a guardianship service and a three phase trajectory of observation, stabilization and supported autonomy for most UAM. It also points to policy shortcomings, in particular in relation to UAM’s needs. The paper concludes by recommending more research on the experiences and perspectives of UAM and on the variety of psychological, contextual and social factors that influence their wellbeing.