In spring 2016, the “National Initiative for the protection of refugees and migrants living in refugee centres in Germany” was launched as a joint initiative of the Federal Government and UNICEF to improve protection, care and supportive measures of children and women living in refugee accommodation centres and to contribute to their well-being and integration.

Drawing on the experience of its core partners (mostly non-statutory welfare umbrella organizations as well as national coordination centres), this initiative created, for the first time, a set of minimum standards focusing on the protection of children and women living in refugee accommodation centres.