The UNICEF analysis “Making the Invisible Visible: the identification of unaccompanied and separated girls in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Serbia” highlights how a lack of understanding of gender dynamics and needs, as well as of appropriate identification and support systems, is making girls ‘invisible’, thereby hindering their access to rights and services, and leaving them at further risk of abuse, exploitation and violence.

The analysis examines basic information on unaccompanied and separated girls' situations, their experiences during their journeys and upon their arrival in Europe, and the challenges involved in their identification. It includes a practical ‘tip sheet’ for frontline workers, outlining 10 signs that a girl might be unaccompanied or separated. Finally, recommendations are proposed for European institutions, authorities in Bulgaria, Italy, Greece and Serbia, and for United Nations agencies.

Confirmed by the findings of the analysis, along with growing literature, safe spaces for women and girls play a paramount role in facilitating access to essential services, as well as in fostering empowerment. Therefore, UNICEF has focused on providing safe spaces for girls and women in the European response and developed a pocket guide to support the design, implementation and evaluation of a girls’ empowerment programme with specific focus on Serbia and Bulgaria.

These initiatives are part of UNICEF’s initiative ‘Action Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Affecting Refugee and Migrant Women and Children in Greece, Italy, Serbia and Bulgaria’, funded by the United States Government.