Guardianship training in the European Union
Although guardianship services in EU Member States are bound by EU law and international standards, there is no unified approach to guardianship training in the EU. In some member States, national law provides for mandatory induction training of new guardians, other Member States define minimum standards for the qualification of guardians. Numerous Member States, however, do not regulate the training of guardians.
The professional backgrounds of guardians differ significantly across the EU. In many Member States, state officials and professionals exercise the role of guardians as part of their professional mandates. In others, citizens volunteer to act as guardians and, in some countries, professional guardians work alongside volunteers. Regardless of their institutional and professional backgrounds, guardians do require specific knowledge and skills to promote the rights and the best interests of the unaccompanied children they assist.
In response to this diversified situation, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency has developed the EU Trainers Manual for guardians of unaccompanied children and this associated EU training and learning platform. They build on previous work of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency in this field, in particular the FRA Handbook and research on guardianship systems in EU Member States, research on unaccompanied children, as well as legal handbooks and training manuals in a range of thematic fields.
References and further reading:
FRA (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights) (2015), Guardianship systems for children deprived of parental care in the European Union, With a particular focus on their role in responding to child trafficking, Luxembourg, Publications Office of the European Union (Publications Office).
FRA (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights) (2014), Guardianship for children deprived of parental care, A handbook to reinforce guardianship systems to cater for the specific needs of child victims of trafficking, Luxembourg, Publications Office of the European Union (Publications Office).
FRA (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights) (2015), Handbook on European law relating to the rights of the child, Luxembourg, Publications Office of the European Union (Publications Office).
FRA (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights) and Council of Europe (2020), Handbook on European law relating to asylum, borders and immigration, Edition 2020, Luxembourg, Publications Office of the European Union (Publications Office).
For more information on the research of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency concerning guardianship for migrant and asylum seeking children, see FRA’s website providing an overview of FRA publications related to guardianship for children deprived of parental care.