Transnational Child Protection: Practical guide for caseworkers and case officers

This practical guide for caseworkers and case officers presents an overview of measures to promote the human rights and best interests of children in cross-border situations. It is an easily accessible tool for handling cases of children who are outside their country of origin or habitual residence. The guide describes standards and obligations under
international and European law that ensure children’s safety and well-being regardless of their national origin or immigration status.

This practical guide translates standards of several Conventions into step-by-step guidance for the assessment and decision making processes in transnational situations.
State authorities and service providers often need to work across borders and require a good network of contacts and clear procedures for transnational case assessment, decision making, referral and service provision. There are many challenges involved, such as communicating effectively with the child, including through interpretation and cultural
mediation, gathering information from the child’s home community and understanding the quality of the child’s relation to family members. Good practice examples of effective cooperation of caseworkers and officers across borders demonstrate that these challenges can be overcome.
This practical guide is based on a set of guidelines, which provide more elaborate and detailed information and a discussion of the key themes. In addition, a Transnational Child Protection Portal offers access online to the content of the guide as well as additional information for professionals and officials working with and for children on the move.