Greece, Bulgaria Mario brings Bulgarian and Greek officials to the negotiating table

Project : MARIO 13 Sep 2011 | migration transnational

September 20-21, Thessaloniki, Greece: Bulgarian and Greek child protection authorities, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors as well as NGOs will be meeting in Thessaloniki to explore opportunities to enhance child protection between both countries, before, during and after the movement of children and their families, draw up a summary of recommendations based on the exchanges of the meeting and to establish regular bi-lateral contacts on the issue of migrating children and families.

The planned meeting is a follow-up of a research conducted in the framework of the project Mario last November-December in Thessaloniki observing Bulgarian children in street situation. The research at the time identified 62 children carrying out some type of economic activity in the streets of Thessaloniki. While the research was far from being representative, it was quite evident that these children need access to protection, housing, health care and education.

The information gathered throughout the research led to the conclusions that there was a clear and urgent need for transnational coordination and immediate adoption of measures in both countries. These measures should be part of a comprehensive and effective plan of action aimed at understanding, monitoring, tackling and ultimately addressing the phenomenon as well as creating/activating a web of services for social assistance and protection of children. The partners of Mario, including ARSIS in Greece and the Alliance for Children and Youth decided to organise the present meeting to ensure that this follow-up was done. [JA]

The research was published under the title: Vulnerability to Exploitation and Trafficking of Bulgarian Children and Adolescents in Greece

Further reading: Bulgarian children everywhere in the streets of Thessaloniki