On 19 May 2017 in Nicosia, Cyprus, during the 127th Session of the Committee of Ministers, 47 European states, among which was Serbia, adopted an Action Plan on protecting refugee and migrant children for the period from 2017 to 2019. Action Plan is based on the clear principle that all children in the context of migration should be treated first and foremost as children, and it contains concrete actions on protecting refugee and migrant children fleeing was, violence and persecution, from falling victims to violence, abuse, exploitation and trafficking in human beings. Action Plan addresses the primary concerns identified in the thematic report compiled by the Special representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees Tomas Bocek, based on his on-the-ground experience gathered during the fact-finding mission in 2016, calling for urgent measures to find alternatives to detention of children and guarantee minimum living conditions in reception centres, setting appropriate age-assessment procedures, effective guardianship systems for children and enabling access to information and education.
Action Plan has three main pillars: ensuring access to right and child-friendly procedures, providing effective protection and enhancing the integration of children who would remain in Europe. In the course of next two years, the Action Plan envisages development of new guidelines on age assessment and guardianship, a handbook promoting child-friendly information, and training on child-friendly procedures.