UNICEF Hails New Italian Law to Protect Unaccompanied Refugee and Migrant Children as Model for Europe

NEW YORK (March 29, 2017) – UNICEF welcomes the Italian Parliament for passing an historic law to boost support and protection for the record number of foreign unaccompanied and separated children who arrived in Italy – nearly 26,000 in 2016.  With nearly 2,000 foreign children arriving on the Mediterranean in the first two months of 2017, the upward trend in arrivals is expected to continue this year making this law timely and relevant. 

“While across Europe we have seen fences going up, children detained and pledges unmet,  the Italian parliamentarians have shown their compassion and duty to young refugees and migrants,” said Ms. Khan who on her recent visit to Italy met several newly arrived children. “This new law serves not only to give refugee and migrant children a sense of predictability in their uncertain lives after risking so much to get to Europe - it serves as a model for how other European countries could put in place a legislative framework that supports protection.”

The Italian Parliament passed the new (Zampa) law for “Provision of Protection measures” after two years of intensive advocacy efforts by UNICEF and other child rights organizations in Italy.  According to a recent UNICEF report “Child Alert: A Deadly Journey for Children,” refugee and migrant children and women routinely suffer sexual violence, exploitation, abuse and detention at the hands of smugglers on the Central Mediterranean migration route to reach Italy. The report was widely cited in the Italian Parliament.

The Central Mediterranean route from North Africa to Italy has become one of the main routes for children fleeing conflict, persecution and deprivation, as well as one of the longest and most dangerous. Some 92 percent of children on the move into Italy are between 14-17 years old and traveling by themselves.

The Zampa law, as the new measure is known, is the first comprehensive act for unaccompanied children in Italy. It calls for a series of measures - fully aligned with UNICEF recommendations - to protect refugee and migrant children, including:

• Unaccompanied and separated foreign children will not be subjected to “refoulement” or returns that may cause them harm;
• Reduce the time these children spend in first-line reception centers;
• Promote guardianship for children by using trained volunteers from the regional child and youth agency and promote foster care and host families for children;
• Harmonize and improve procedures for age assessment in a child-sensitive manner;
• Establish a structured and streamlined national reception system, with minimum standards in all reception facilities; 
• Roll out extensive use of qualified cultural mediators* to communicate and interpret needs of vulnerable adolescents.

The new law includes additional budgetary provisions on top of €600 million which the Government of Italy had already allocated in 2016 to municipalities, groups and caregivers to help them cope with the large influx of refugees and migrants in reception centers.

Note to editors:
UNICEF in Italy aims to support children at every step of the way – at sea and on land. On board Italian coastguard rescue ships, UNICEF, together with partner Intersos, helps identify unaccompanied children and assists them, as well as mothers with children, during rescue operations at sea. UNICEF has set up child-friendly spaces on these rescue ships and helps distribute hygiene kits for girls and women and other resource materials. In Sicily and Calabria, UNICEF is working to streamline government’s child protection efforts, and improve conditions in the reception centers that host unaccompanied children, helping to put in place learning, skills training, sport and language activities. UNICEF has so far trained some 200 front line workers and volunteer tutors, to better equip them in protecting children’s rights. In Rome and at the northern border areas, UNICEF mobile teams composed of social workers and cultural mediators refer vulnerable children outside the organized system of reception for special protection. During the first two months of 2017, UNICEF-supported outreach teams identified and assisted 1,602 unaccompanied and separated children at risk.

*Footnote – cultural mediators work as interpreters of cultural needs and practices

About UNICEF
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. UNICEF USA supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

For more information, contact:
Sophie Aziakou, UNICEF USA, 917.720.1397, saziakou@unicefusa.org