The reception center for asylum-seeking minors and vulnerable unaccompanied/separated children, which opened today in Sarajevo, is aimed at providing comprehensive support to asylum-seeking children and vulnerable unaccompanied/separated children.
The center was realized within the framework of the project “Support to a vulnerable group of refugee children on the way through Bosnia and Herzegovina” financed by SwS Solidarity and the project “BRAT – Balkan route: reception in transit” financed by the Agency for Development Cooperation of Italy and is the result of joint work, a strategic partnership and persistence of all involved.
The event brought together representatives of the governmental and non-governmental sectors who devoted their efforts to creating a safe and supportive environment for the most vulnerable members of our society, and showed a strong commitment to humanitarian values and the protection of the rights of refugees and unaccompanied minors in difficult situations.
The opening of the center was attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Italy in BiH Marco di Ruzza, the representative of the Asylum Sector of the Ministry of Security of BiH Mustafa Pašalić, the director of the office of Caritas Switzerland in BiH Daniel Bronkal, the director of IPSIA – Istituto Pace Sviluppo Innovazione BiH Silvia Maraone, and the Head of the JRS office in BiH Vedran Mihić.
They expressed their belief that the Reception Center will become a symbol of hope and solidarity and that it will contribute to building an inclusive society where everyone feels welcome and safe.
It was pointed out that in the pre-accession process, the BiH Reception Center will ensure better protection of categories that are a priority in providing international protection.
BiH as a state, as a government, as Bronkal stated, has really learned a lot and has come a long way.
“We have a number of different supporters, from private donations from Switzerland to the Italian government, in cooperation with local actors, who have come together to realize this project and this really shows a very good example of how such projects should be done,” pointed out Bronkal.
The center represents a significant step forward in ongoing efforts to provide protection, safety and support to those who need it most.
