Cite as: Sarantou E. & A. Theodoropoulou, 2019, Children Cast Adrift: Exclusion and exploitation of unaccompanied minors (UAMs) in Greece, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, Office in Greece.
The mapping of the child protection framework in Italy – or lack thereof – highlights how malpractices lead minors to social exclusion and even exploitation. The lack of clear guidelines, pathways, the stark incoherence between the legislative framework and the practices followed in day-today reality, the lack of an efficient guardianship system to guide the child through the extremely complex reception and asylum procedure in Greece, the extremely poor identification and reception conditions, together with the lack of individualised treatment and mapping of durable solutions, including minors’ own needs and desires, has led to a fragmented ad hoc child protection system, filled with shortcomings, greatly dependent on individual persons; persons – sometimes randomly chosen – who will greatly affect a child’s life.