Publication of the international report of the Durable Solutions project

8 January 2016

On the 8^th of January 2016, the results of the Durable Solutions for Separated Children in Europe project has been published. The  Irish Refugee Council took lead in this project. The international report and the toolkit are endorsed by the Separated Children in Europe Programme.

The main objectives of the research conducted for this project focused on the methodology behind arriving at a durable solution for a separated child. The project lies an emphasis on the rights of the child as contained within the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and on wider child development needs in determining and implementing durable solutions.

A study on durable solutions for separated children was undertaken with the aim to identify and recommend best practices in determining and implementing durable solution for separated children in Europe. Nine national reports, a synthesis report and a toolkit  which serves as guidance for service providers relating to the methodology of determinig durable solutions, are presented. The findings in the national reports show that there was limited knowledge of the precise term 'durable solutions' (except for Belgium) and almost no legislative guidance. Furthermore, all national reports suggested that it is necessary to develop a multidisciplinary durable solutions process in order to ensure all aspects of the child's needs, rights and whishes are being considered with the interests of the child in mind and not the interest of the State. The status of separated children is mentioned as the main barrier to realising durable solutions by most national reports. The overall recommendation regarding this problem, was to find durable immigration and protection statusses that facilitate access to other components of the durable solution.
 

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