Protection for Refugee Boys, Girls, and Adolescents and Applicants for Refugee Status

1. Protection for Refugee Boys, Girls, and Adolescents and Applicants for Refugee Status Marcos Ezequiel Filardi

2. Arrival of unaccompanied or separated boys, girls, and adolescents to Argentina • Institutional guardianship • Assistance by UNHCR/Civil Society Relevant Background • To take on the guardianship, legal representation, and accompaniment of unaccompanied or separated boys, girls, and adolescents – refugees and applicants for refugee status Objectives of the Best Practice or Successful Experience • Unaccompanied or separated boys, girls, and adolescents – refugees and applicants for refugee status Oriented Toward • 2007 - today Beginning and End

3. Mission The Committee for the Comprehensive Assistance and Protection of Refugees and Applicants for Refugee Status was established in 2007 by Dr Stella Maris Martínez, General Ombudsman of the Nation, to take on the guardianship, legal representation, and accompaniment of unaccompanied or separated boys, girls, and adolescents applying for refugee status in the Republic of Argentina. Since then, the Committee seeks to protect and guarantee each and every human right of the persons assisted by the Committee. • Guardianship • Legal Representation • Accompaniment

4. Numbers, by Year

5. Countries of Origin DOMINICAN REPUBLIC HAITI SIERRA LEONE INDIA GUINEA BISSAU LIBERIA BANGLADESH GUINEA IVORY COAST GHANA SENEGAL NIGERIA CAMEROON COLOMBIA Rosario Buenos Aires BY SEA BY AIR

6. Stowaways • The vast majority of African nationals arrive as stowaways on cargo ships. They hide in the winch receptacle, the space above the rudder blade, the engines of the cranes on board, the storeroom, or the engine room. • The journey lasts 17-21 days. • They only carry gari (mandioca meal), water, condensed milk, and sugar with them. • An undetermined number of them die during the journey.

7. Comprehensive assistance in terms of legal representation, health, education, housing, food, preparing for employment, and developing a life project. Actions Implemented • An inter-disciplinary accompanying team • Open-door offices Method Used • On-going intermediation • Responsibility • On-going accompaniment Focus or Central Themes • Inter-disciplinary teamwork • An on-going participative assessment

8. Legal Representation

9. Accompaniment

10. The Right to Health

11. The Right to Education

12. The Right to Employment

13. The Right to Appropriate Nutrition

14. Right to adequate housing

15. The Right to Recreation

16. The Right to Family Unification

17. The Right to Identity Documents

18. The Right to Non-Discrimination

19. The Right to Legal Protection

20. Inter-institutional Protocol

21. Operates within the framework of the Public Ministry of Defence (MPD): operationally independent from the other powers Sustainability • Tools for improving integration at a local level Empowerment and Impact • Mainly State institutions Involved Actors and Participation Approach to Address the Problem of Child Labour and its Root Causes • Using social dialogue as a strategy • Of the assisted population, 96% are men Incorporating a Gender Approach

22. Key Lessons Learned in Designing and Implementing this Best Practice • The importance of responsible officers from autonomous institutions • The need for inter-disciplinary work • Coordination between State institutions, United Nations agencies, and civil society organizations • Participative assessment as a key element in designing and executing programmes • Developing and implementing protocols for action

23. References: Best Practices • Information available on CD and on the website • Inter-institutional protocol • Internal protocol for action • A book to be presented in September 2012 at the 5-year anniversary of the Committee

24. Thank you