UNHCR has organised a roundtable focused on strengthening guardianship systems for unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) in Bulgaria on 21 May. The event was attended by key stakeholders, including national authorities, civil society representatives, and child protection professionals, for an open dialogue on enhancing the legal and institutional frameworks supporting UASC.
The roundtable was jointly organised by UNHCR, the Council of Europe, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), and the European Guardianship Network, with the support of the EU Asylum Agency and UNICEF.
The event was organised in the context of Bulgaria's national implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, the event provided a timely opportunity to address longstanding gaps in the protection of unaccompanied children, particularly in light of increasing arrivals. In 2024 alone, more than 2,600 unaccompanied children applied for asylum in Bulgaria, underscoring the urgent need for a robust, child-centered guardianship system.