As of September 2020, 14,543 children were registered by UNHCR in Libya, out of which 1,723 are unaccompanied and separated children. Due to conflict, economic hardship, absence of rule of law and limited assistance, refugee and asylum-seeking children remain vulnerable to child abuse, violence and exploitation, including the worst forms of child labour. Case management (best interest assessment and best interest determination) systems for children at risk, including UASC, will continue to be strengthened and expanded to ensure timely identification, assessment and provision of appropriate services and assistance. Data collection and recording of UNHCR child protection case management interventions will be prioritised through UNHCR ProGres database. Moreover, long-term interventions aiming to address behavioural change along with improved access to livelihoods will be pursued, as the community often normalizes harmful practices such as child marriage and perceives them as a protection strategy.
UNHCR will scale-up outreach activities, including through the use of mobile information desks and outreach teams, to improve access to child protection services for children of concern at risk who are scattered in urban areas . Under the UNHCR/UNICEF Blueprint, UNHCR will work closely with Government and operational partners, in order to enhance services and assistance provision to refugee and asylum-seeking children through existing programmes, including through the UNICEF Bayti centres. In close coordination with UNICEF under the Blueprint, the Office will advocate access to all children regardless of nationality to the Libyan school at no additional costs. Furthermore, UNHCR will strengthen partnership with key stakeholders on expanding access to education and child protection services in Libya to newly arrived children of concern, despite documentation challenges.
UNHCR will focus on strengthening community support mechanisms to build resilience among children and caregivers, including through refugee outreach volunteers. The Office will strive to ensure alternative care arrangement for unaccompanied children are in place through (a) Implementation of care support for persons with severe medical conditions including mental-health and disabilities; (b) Access to education services for children youth; and (c) Advocacy to include children/youth in the national system and capacity building with the Ministry of Education.
UNHCR’s access to detention centres is unpredictable and operational space in detention can be restricted. for the Office will continue advocating release of vulnerable individuals, specifically UASCs.
UNHCR will continue, together with the protection partners, to play a key role in strengthening best interest processes, including through the inter-agency approach aimed at enhancing the joint best interest procedure panels of UNICEF, UNHCR and IOM to ensure best interest considerations in any interventions vis a vis children in Libya.