1. Protection for Refugee Boys, Girls, and Adolescents and Applicants for Refugee Status Marcos Ezequiel Filardi

2. Arrival of unaccompanied or separated boys, girls, and adolescents to Argentina Institutional guardianship Assistance by UNHCR/Civil Society Arrival of unaccompanied or separated boys, girls, and adolescents to Argentina Institutional guardianship Assistance by UNHCR/Civil Society Relevant Background To take on the guardianship, legal representation, and accompaniment of unaccompanied or separated boys, girls, and adolescents – refugees and applicants for refugee status Objectives of the Best Practice or Successful Experience Unaccompanied or separated boys, girls, and adolescents – refugees and applicants for refugee status Oriented Toward 2007 - today Beginning and End

3. Mission The Committee for the Comprehensive Assistance and Protection of Refugees and Applicants for Refugee Status was established in 2007 by Dr Stella Maris Martínez, General Ombudsman of the Nation, to take on the guardianship, legal representation, and accompaniment of unaccompanied or separated boys, girls, and adolescents applying for refugee status in the Republic of Argentina. Since then, the Committee seeks to protect and guarantee each and every human right of the persons assisted by the Committee. Accompaniment Legal Representation Guardianship

4. Numbers, by Year

5. Countries of Origin Buenos Aires Rosario HAITI COLOMBIA SENEGAL GUINEA SIERRA LEONE GHANA IVORY COAST NIGERIA CAMEROON LIBERIA BANGLADESH GUINEA BISSAU INDIA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BY SEA BY AIR

6. Stowaways The journey lasts 17-21 days. They hide in the winch receptacle, the space above the rudder blade, the engines of the cranes on board, the storeroom, or the engine room. The vast majority of African nationals arrive as stowaways on cargo ships. They only carry gari (mandioca meal), water, condensed milk, and sugar with them. An undetermined number of them die during the journey.

7. Comprehensive assistance in terms of legal representation, health, education, housing, food, preparing for employment, and developing a life project. Actions Implemented On-going intermediation Method Used Responsibility Focus or Central Themes On-going accompaniment Inter-disciplinary teamwork An on-going participative assessment Open-door offices An inter-disciplinary accompanying team

14. Right to adequate housing

21. Operates within the framework of the Public Ministry of Defence (MPD): operationally independent from the other powers Sustainability Tools for improving integration at a local level Empowerment and Impact Mainly State institutions Involved Actors and Participation Using social dialogue as a strategy Approach to Address the Problem of Child Labour and its Root Causes Of the assisted population, 96% are men Incorporating a Gender Approach

22. The importance of responsible officers from autonomous institutions The need for inter-disciplinary work Coordination between State institutions, United Nations agencies, and civil society organizations Participative assessment as a key element in designing and executing programmes Developing and implementing protocols for action Key Lessons Learned in Designing and Implementing this Best Practice

23. Information available on CD and on the website Inter-institutional protocol Internal protocol for action A book to be presented in September 2012 at the 5-year anniversary of the Committee References: Best Practices

24. Thank you