This report presents the findings of protection monitoring carried out by IRC Serbia, with the support of our partner Info Park, between March and September 2025. Focusing on unaccompanied and separated children and the rights violations they face on their journeys toward Western Europe, it reports on their access to essential services and protection in Serbia.

Based on 206 interviews conducted outside formal accommodation centres (in squats, forests in border areas, and the Info Park hub in Belgrade), the report captures the realities of children who are often invisible to humanitarian actors and national protection systems.

The data reveal a consistent pattern of serious rights violations. More than two-thirds of the children reported experiencing at least one pushback, often involving physical violence, threats, forced stripping, and in many cases, de facto detention in degrading conditions lasting from hours to several days. One in four described arbitrary or unlawful detention, and widespread theft of personal belongings such as phones, money, and clothing. The report also documents other rights violations and the persistent barriers children on the move face when trying to access protection and services.

The findings of this report highlight the urgent need for stronger and more effective child protection mechanisms for unaccompanied children in Serbia and beyond.

Available documents & links