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Information and exchange in the field of migrant children

ADEM National Symposium 2013

On June 26, 2013, the Alliance for the rights of migrant children (ADEM), coordinated by the Swiss Foundation of the International Social Service (SSI) and the International Institute of the child’s rights (IDE), held a national symposium on the theme of separated children in Switzerland. The symposium was attended by 70 professionals and actors in the field, coming from 12 different cantons.

The national symposium was focused on the issue of the passage to adulthood of separated children, which represents a serious challenge for the cantons. The contributions of the actors and workers brought up the problems linked to this passage, such as the risk of disappearance or the drift towards an illegal status, which is often caused by the loss of relationships.

Field of action

The actors elaborated some possible actions in order to better adapt the international guidelines to the Swiss context. In particular, the following issues have been raised:

  • Sharing good practices among cantons
  • Setting of minimal standards and stages in the assumption of care
  • Implementing of network in each canton
  • Enforcement of the partnership between the institutions and the civil society in the assumption of care of children and youths
  • Training of professionals

Experience and stories by the youths

During the symposium there has been the opening of the exhibition «Mineurs non accompagnés en Suisse ? Et après… » (Unaccompanied minors in Switzerland ? and then…), which lets the real actors talk and tell : the children and the teenager. This exhibition, created by the SSI in close partnership with five students of the Master in child’s right (MIDE), tells the story of 5 young residents of the home for unaccompanied minors « le Rados », in Sion. Based on the will to show that every youth has a past, a present and a future, the exhibition shows the reasons for their departure, the journey to reach their destination, their life in Switzerland and their projects and dreams.

Next steps

This national event was the result of the effort by the ADEM to improve interaction and collaboration between professionals in the field of separated children. In order to continue this strategy (circulation of information and improvement of good practice), the ADEM fixed the next steps :

  • Opening of ADEM to new members
  • Identification of a cantonal or regional coordinator
  • Sharing of the information produced in the 2013 symposium
  • Improvement of the Enfants Migrants platform (www.enfants-migrants.ch) and publication of Newsletters
  • Elaboration of a childcare textbook for the professionals
  • Improvement of the dialogue and communication with partners, authorities and involved actors
  • Training of professsionals