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.

Pays/région Thème Période Budget
Bosnie et Herzégovine
Aide d'urgence et protection
Migration et développement
Protection, accès & sécurité
Migration en général (développement et partenariats)
01.04.2025 - 31.07.2026
CHF  500’000
Contexte 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.
Objectifs To enhance the protection and well-being of the most vulnerable unaccompanied minors and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Groupes cibles Unaccompanied minors and asylum-seeking children in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Effets à moyen terme
  • 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.
Résultats

Principaux résultats attendus:  

  • 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.


Principaux résultats antérieurs:   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.


Direction/office fédéral responsable DDC
Partenaire de projet Partenaire contractuel
Organisation suisse à but non lucratif
  • Caritas Suisse


Autres partenaires

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)

The Centre for Social Work of Sarajevo Canton

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Security

Coordination avec d'autres projets et acteurs
  • Sarajevo Canton authorities
  • Caritas Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • UN agencies (IOM, UNICEF, UNHCR)
  • EU Delegation
Budget Phase en cours Budget de la Suisse CHF    500’000 Budget suisse déjà attribué CHF    288’381 Projet total depuis la première phase Budget de la Suisse CHF   50’000 Budget y compris partenaires de projet CHF   550’000
Phases du projet Phase 2 01.04.2025 - 31.07.2026   (Phase en cours) Phase 1 01.07.2024 - 31.03.2025   (Active)