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• Statelessness
• Gender-specific persecution

Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASCs)

Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and teenagers receive special attention and care, such as schooling. (photo: SEM © Gerry Amstutz)

Some of those seeking asylum in Switzerland are under the age of 18 and not accompanied by an adult. Because they are particularly vulnerable, the State Secretariat for Migration has a slightly different asylum procedure for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASCs) in order to protect their specific interests. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 20 November 1989, lays down the principles which may influence this procedure.

The key elements of the procedure with UASCs are:

• to assess the likelihood that the person is under 18
• to protect the interests of the UASC by appointing them a caseworker
• to give priority to the application and to adapt the interview to the specific needs of the child
• to carefully examine the conditions under which the UASC may be returned to their country of origin.

As soon as an UASC is allocated to a canton, the Confederation and cantons ensure that suitable accommodation, care, schooling and medical care are provided.

Last modification 01.03.2019