Protection and emergency care for vulnerable and unaccompanied minors
The number of migrants transiting through Bosnia and Herzegovina remains high with more than 25% of them being unaccompanied minors in need of essential care and special protection due to their vulnerabilities. As the state system is not yet able to fully address their needs, assistance from external actors remains crucial to provide adequate support to this vulnerable group of migrants and to safeguard their rights.
| Región/País | Tema | Período | Presupuesto |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bosnia y Herzegovina |
Ayuda de emergencia y protección Migración y desarrollo
Protección, acceso y seguridad
Migración en general (aspectos de desarrollo y partenariados) |
01.04.2025
- 31.07.2026 |
CHF 500’000
|
- Vulnerable unaccompanied minors and asylum-seeking children gain stable living conditions, access to education, emotional well-being, and a path to social integration.
- Integration and sustainability of support services: the Sarajevo Reception Cen-ter's services are enhanced, and their integration into local systems is facilitated.
- Vulnerable unaccompanied minors and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children live in a household that can cover basic needs (access to sufficient food, water, sanitation, shelter, clothing, protection from violence, essential medical care, counselling and education services).
- Vulnerable unaccompanied minors and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are supported to integrate into the local community.
- Strengthened capacities of state authorities to facilitate the integration of services into the Government's Official Referral Mechanism.
- Policy dialogue with the Ministry of Security and cantonal authorities, together with Swiss Embassy, UN agencies, and the EU Delegation, to develop intermediary and long-term solutions for sustainable support of unaccompanied minors.
- Caritas Suiza
- Sarajevo Canton authorities
- Caritas Bosnia and Herzegovina
- UN agencies (IOM, UNICEF, UNHCR)
- EU Delegation
-
Sector según clasificación del comité de ayuda al desarrollo de la OCDE EMERGENCY RESPONSE
GOBIERNO Y SOCIEDAD CIVIL
Sub-Sector según clasificación del comité de ayuda al desarrollo de la OCDE Ayuda y servicios materiales de emergencia
Facilitation of orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility
Temas transversales Derechos humanos
Tipo de ayuda Contribución a proyectos y programas
Número de proyecto 7F11424
| Contexto | Since 2018, more than 170,000 migrants passed through Bosnia and Herzegovina, while in 2024 the number of migrants transiting the country was more than 25,000. Around 25% of these are unaccompanied minors. The Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Security estimates that at least 5% of unaccompanied minors are in a situation of vulnerability, meaning they either have been or are at risk of being subjected to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, exploitation, human trafficking, neglect, or abandonment. |
| Objetivos | To enhance the protection and well-being of the most vulnerable unaccompanied minors and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
| Grupos destinarios | Unaccompanied minors and asylum-seeking children in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Efectos a medio plazo |
|
| Resultados |
Resultados previstos: Resultados de las fases anteriores: According to assessments carried out in temporary reception centres for migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina, based on internationally established standards and vulnerability categorizations, unaccompanied minors require relocation from the reception centres where they currently reside, due to inadequate and insufficient accommodation capacities, frequent turnover of other users, and absence of care addressing psychosocial needs. Due to limited state capacity, there was no separate unit for housing these minors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, until Caritas Switzerland and Jesuit Refugee Service opened the Sarajevo Reception Centre (safe house) for vulnerable migrant minors in 2023. SDC has been supporting its functioning since June 2024, enabling vital services to be provided for 54 minors. |
| Dirección / Officina Federal responsable |
COSUDE |
| Contrapartes del proyecto |
Contraparte del contrato Organización suiza sin fines de lucro Otras contrapartes The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) The Centre for Social Work of Sarajevo Canton The Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Security |
| Coordinación con otros proyectos y actores |
|
| Presupuesto | Fase en curso Presupuesto suizo CHF 500’000 Presupuesto actual suizo ya emitido CHF 288’381 Total del proyecto desde la primera fase Presupuesto suizo CHF 50’000 Presupuesto inclusive contrapartes del proyecto CHF 550’000 |
| Fases del proyecto | Fase 2 01.04.2025 - 31.07.2026 (Fase en curso) Fase 1 01.07.2024 - 31.03.2025 (Active) |
