site.btaBulgaria Adopts First Instruction for Determining Age of Unaccompanied Minors by Non-Invasive Means
The first Bulgarian instruction for determining the age of unaccompanied minors by non-invasive means has been adopted, State Agency for Refugees Chairperson Mariana Tosheva said at a news conference at BTA's National Press Club in Sofia on Friday.
Tosheva expects the instruction to create legal safeguards against challenges to age determinations, as well as reduce the costs of bone age assessments.
The instruction implements the requirements under Article 5 of the Directive of the European Parliament on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals and for combating human trafficking and protecting its victims, Tosheva explained. She added that the instruction introduces criteria and methods for assessing and establishing the age of unidentified asylum-seekers in Bulgaria. If an unidentified foreigner claims to be a child but the State Agency for Refugees doubts this, an expert examination of the person's actual age will be required.
Tosheva explained that the adoption of the instruction is the result of the work of an inter-agency group, which includes representatives of the Interior Ministry, Medical Institute with the Interior Ministry, National Legal Aid Bureau, UN High Commissioner for Refugee, UNICEF, Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, Social Assistance Agency, Refugee Agency and the State Agency for Child Protection.
/VE/
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