Promise Soteria: Promoting inclusive and resilient child protection systems

PROMISE Soteria worked to strengthen national child protection systems and Barnahus specifically by a) strengthening national practice of well-functioning, accessible and resilient child protection systems that are adequately structured and equipped to function to protect children, including in periods of crisis and emergencies such as the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Russian invasion in Ukraine, b) strengthening the national child protection system’s ability to work on transnational cases, including in cases of third-country children seeking protection within the EU or unaccompanied children moving from country to country within the EU, and c) enhancing the contribution of Barnahus as one important component of the broader child protection systems, whilst promoting excellence in practice in referral, assessment/screening, support, coordination, protection and follow up in cases of violence against children.

We are happy to share with you the Guidance authored by Child Circle on Exploring Transnational Child Protection Cases in Europe. It aims to support child protection and justice systems—including policymakers, professionals, NGOs, lawyers, and guardians—in ensuring children’s rights are upheld in transnational cases. The Guidance focuses on cases shaped by EU law.  These include cases concerning children in migration, children involved in criminal proceedings of violence, children in civil law cases concerning parental responsibility, child abduction and child protection, trafficked children, emergency displacements - children from Ukraine, and children who go missing.  

The Guidance identifies issues and challenges that arise in providing support and assistance to children, hearing children and considering their best interests in child protection cases with a transnational dimension. It surveys relevant laws and practices that can assist policymakers and practitioners and recommends key steps and actions to consider. An Accompanying Tool to the Guidance serves as a further resource for both policymakers, child protection and justice services and professionals involved in administrative and justice proceedings when exploring how to better fulfil children’s rights in transnational child protection cases

Partners & Funding

CBSS Children at Risk (Lead partner), Child Circle, Marie Cederschiöld University. PROMISE Soteria was funded by the European Union with partner co-funding.