Power2UAMs project

Power to UAMs: Ensuring Equal Access, Participation, and Voice at the Local Level

The POWER2UAMs project is dedicated to ensuring equal access to good-quality public services for unaccompanied children (UACs) in the asylum system and those in transit at the local level.

The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by all EU Member States, guarantee the rights of all children - regardless of their migration background or residence status. Public authorities at all levels (national, regional, and local) are bound to uphold these rights.

The project will focus on selected localities in Belgium (Brussels, Gent and Liège), France (Calais), and Greece (Athens, Pyreus), while also engaging at the EU level.

Abstract:

The rights of the child apply to all children, regardless of their migration background or their residence status. The duty to respect child rights applies to public authorities at all levels (national, regional and local). A particularly vulnerable group of children in Europe are unaccompanied minors (UAMs). These minors lack parental care and often undertake complex journeys to reach and settle in Europe. They face many challenges, including limited access to public services, homelessness, segregated education, insttitutionalisation, violence, abuse, etc. 
 

The project aims to ensure equal access to good quality public services to UAMs at the local level. It will: 1. gather comparable qualitative and quantitative data about the needs of UAMs and their access to services at the local level; 2. reinforce the coordination among local stakeholders, setting-up local working meetings or groups 3. reinforce the voice of unaccompanied minors by establishing child participation platforms in each selected locality; 4. respond to the identified needs of unaccompanied minors by developing local strategies in each selected locality; 5. launch advocacy actions at national and local level to make sustainable change, including legal actions where necessary, 6. develop a Toolkit for local stakeholders on ensuring equal access to local services for UAMs.

The project website: power2uams

Partner institutions

Greek Council of Refugees

Bridge EU (B)

Network of Afghan Diaspora Organisations in Europe (NADOE)

Caritas International Belgium

Solidarity NOW

Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum

ECPAT France