Between the 7th and 9th of March 2023, under the scope of the KOMPLEKS project, ICMPD organized a study visit for representatives of Polish local authorities and project partners to the Czech Republic.
The main scope of the study visit was to look at the system of identification and support for vulnerable migrants in the Czech Republic, especially for unaccompanied minors, single parents with minor children, people with disabilities, people with mental disorders, and victims of THB. One of the major focuses of this study visit was to learn about the system of reception and housing conditions for asylum seekers and temporary protection (TP) beneficiaries residing in the Czech Republic, as well as the legal context of vulnerability in the asylum and TP procedures. The study visit was designed for practitioners involved in the reception and providing support to vulnerable groups in Poland, to review and collect good practices in the identification of vulnerable groups. A series of meetings with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders revolved around addressing the needs of unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable groups and led to a better understanding of the main challenges that both asylum seekers and temporary protection beneficiaries face in the Czech Republic. Participants met with representatives of the Czech Ministry of the Interior, several key NGOs, and conducted field visits to specialized facilities for unaccompanied minors and assistance centres for displaced persons from Ukraine. As vulnerable persons often find themselves in situations requiring special adaptation or follow-up from the authorities, good practices in networking and building a solid referential system across stakeholders were among key topics on the agenda.