Gender-specific needs (for protection)
Specialist advice and support for asylum centres in Switzerland
Refugee children and teenagers are especially vulnerable. Our programmes provide assistance to support organisations, specialist bodies and authorities in implementing children’s rights and child safeguarding in asylum centres.
Swiss asylum centres often lack the necessary knowledge as well as time and staff resources to address child safeguarding issues and take appropriate measures for the entire centre. Thanks to the experience we gained during our pilot project Child and adolescent-friendly spaces and our internationally networked position as a leading, independent children’s rights organisation, we have at our disposal extensive expertise and can thus support asylum centres in implementing children’s rights and child safeguarding.
Consultation for authorities and organisations
We support specialist organisations and authorities in developing guidelines and measures for safeguarding children’s well-being at asylum centres.
Our consultation is based on an assessment shaped by children’s rights. This includes a physical inspection of the accommodation and interviews with qualified personnel on site. In a comprehensive report, we subsequently give practical recommendations to improve the child-appropriateness of the accommodation and support the centres in implementing these recommendations. If necessary, we also support the centres in establishing a child safeguarding system including conduct guidelines and a reporting process.
Children’s needs unfortunately sometimes get lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life at asylum centres. The report prompted us to hire a child carer and to discuss the children’s situation at the centre with our clients.
Courses and workshops
Safeguarding children and teenagers is a topmost priority, also at asylum centres. Our courses and workshops for care providers promote a targeted and practicable implementation of child safeguarding measures.
Our practical training courses address current and individual issues and challenges arising in everyday life at an asylum centre and are geared towards our target audience’s needs. Our courses deliver basic knowledge and practical tips in areas such as:
Child safeguarding guidelines, conduct guidelines and reporting processes as well as cooperation with authorities
Forms of violence and violence prevention as well as handling threats to children’s well-being
Professional handling of proximity and distance
Educational care, support and psychosocial support for refugee children and teenagers
Pedagogical guidelines (in German) pdf - 531,95 KB
Are you interested in receiving specialist consultation or support for an asylum centre? We would be happy to help and answer your questions.
Support our work
Support our work in Switzerland; help us, for instance, to offer play and learning opportunities for refugee children.
Further projects in Switzerland
Learn more about our strategy and programs in Switzerland.