News item | 21-12-2021 | 15:00
State Secretary Broekers-Knol signed the guardianship action plan together with the Greek Minister for Migration Notis Mitarakis and the Deputy Minister for Migration Sofia Voultepsi. The plan is an important part of the cooperation between the Netherlands and Greece to improve the protection of unaccompanied minors, so that we continue to contribute to aid in Greece.
Expertise from the Netherlands
The action plan contains the agreements about the support that the Netherlands offers to Greece by means of a guardianship program in setting up and strengthening the Greek guardianship system. For example, a training program is being developed for guardians. The expertise of the Dutch Nidos foundation is used for this. In the Netherlands, Nidos is responsible for the guardianship of unaccompanied minors. A guardian ensures the well-being and protection of the minor during and after the asylum procedure; indispensable for the minor. With the signature, the action plan can start quickly.
Reception facilities
The guardianship program is part of a broader partnership between the Netherlands and Greece that was established in July 2020. Another part is the reception facilities for unaccompanied minors on the Greek mainland. The Netherlands has financed 3 shelters with a total of 48 minors. Here they receive psycho-social care, education, health care, legal assistance and other forms of assistance necessary for their well-being and development. There are now about 100 unaccompanied minors who have been taken care of in the shelters.