International Social Service to trace guardians of underage asylum seekers arriving without a guardian

The Finnish Immigration Service signed a cooperation agreement with International Social Service (ISS) on 23.4.2007 concerning the tracing of actual guardians of underage asylum seekers arriving without a guardian.

ISS is an independent non-governmental organization dedicated, through its global network, to helping individuals and families with personal or social problems resulting from migration and international movement, such as adoption and guardianship disputes. A primary objective of the organization in all its operations is meeting the interest of the child. ISS cooperates with the UN, the International Red Cross and IOM (International Organization for Migration).

Regulations regarding tracing entered into force on 1.2.2007

According to a legislative amendment regarding tracing that entered into force on 1.2.2007 the actual guardian of an underage asylum seeker arriving without a guardian must be traced where possible. Responsibility for the tracing lies with the Finnish Immigration Service. The legislative amendment is based on international treaties to which Finland is bound.

- It is in the interest of the child to know where his or her guardians are residing, and all children have the right to personal relations and direct contacts with their parents. The objective of tracing is to re-establish the connection between an underage asylum seeker who has arrived in Finland and his or her parent or actual guardian residing in the home country or another country. Information obtained through the tracing process may also be useful with respect to possible family reunification in the child’s home country, residence country or Finland, says Senior Adviser Monica Harju from the Asylum Unit of the Finnish Immigration Service.

- The purpose of tracing is to help the Finnish Immigration Service base its decision on facts. Information obtained through the tracing process may also be useful with respect to possible family reunification in the child’s home country, residence country or Finland, Harju says.

The fact that asylum matters are confidential is taken into consideration in the tracing process. Furthermore, steps are taken to ensure that the tracing does not endanger the safety of the child or his or her loved ones in the country of origin under any circumstances.

Regardless of the tracing process, the child will be granted international protection where the need for such protection is established. Applications for international protection are always processed case by case.

The Finnish Immigration Service is currently charting possible parties for providing the services of psychologists and other experts familiar with immigrant children’s matters. Tracing is a challenging task, for which the Finnish Immigration Service prepared through a project funded by ERF (European Refugee Fund). The experience and expertise obtained from the project were useful with respect to future operational planning. The same challenge faces other EU countries as well. www.migri.fi

7.5.2007