Unaccompanied minors: a lottery of care placements and a difficult path to adulthood

Sunday, Jun 29, 2025

Il Sole 24 Ore

Italian unaccompanied minors face integration challenges, especially at age 18, needing support beyond basic reception.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

In Italy, 18,625 unaccompanied minors arrived last year, with most being male and over sixteen, primarily from Ukraine. Integration requires more than just reception; it needs guidance for studies, life choices, and family reunification. Reaching age eighteen is a critical turning point for these minors, as many lack the support to secure work or housing independently after leaving care systems. Unaccompanied foreign minors who commit offenses are often placed in adult facilities instead of juvenile ones due to identification difficulties, despite needing specialized care. A key supportive figure is the volunteer guardian, whose number is increasing across various Italian districts to aid these young people with hopes and fears for a better future.

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