„Бебетата-бегълци“: непридружените непълнолетни бежанци в България
„Runaway Babies“: Unaccompanied Minors in Bulgaria

Summary/Abstract: The number of unaccompanied minors in Bulgaria is not large: between 20 and 30 unaccompanied minors are reported to apply for protection annually. Yet their stories are the most disturbing, and reveal immense problems: of all refugees it is the group of unaccompanied minors that experience most serious difficulties when leaving their homeland and facing the loss of their loved ones. They are the most vulnerable to discrimination and abuse, as well as the most difficult to integrate. The European Union has taken special measures to create a common and coordinated approach to reception, protection and integration of unaccompanied minors. They quickly receive refugee status in Bulgaria, and disappear from the country soon after. This is why public servants, who have been in contact with them at work, have come to name them ‘runaway babies’. This paper focuses on specific issues of unaccompanied minors, who have either applied or received protection in Bulgaria and on reasons underlying the failure of the state to provide protection, the end-result being that unaccompanied minors quickly leave the country. It is based on both a number of interviews with unaccompanied minors and an analysis of relevant regulations and practices.

• Details
• Contents