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STANDARD 37: Ensure that unaccompanied children possess sufficient clothing.

Indicator 37.1: Unaccompanied children are provided with clothing as soon as possible.

  • Additional remarks: Within a few hours after having been assigned to a housing facility, unaccompanied children must be dressed in at least basic (provisional) clothing enabling them to move freely in all the accessible areas (both interior and exterior) designed for them.

Indicator 37.2: Unaccompanied children possess sufficient underwear for a week without having to do laundry.

  • Additional remarks: The above should be considered as a minimum of eight sets of underwear.

Indicator 37.3: Unaccompanied children possess at least a minimum number of clothing items.

  • Additional remarks: The above should be considered as a minimum as five second layer upper-body items (such as T-shirt, shirt, blouse), at least three lower-body items (trousers, skirt, shorts), at least three items like hoodie, sweater, and jacket, and two sets of nightwear.

Indicator 37.4: Unaccompanied children have at least two different pairs of shoes.

  • Additional remarks: This could include one pair of shoes for domestic use as well as one pair for outdoor use.

Indicator 37.5: If any of the clothes are no longer usable because of wear and tear, there is a standardised way to obtain another one in exchange.

Indicator 37.6: Unaccompanied children with babies or small children possess sufficient clothes for their children for one week without having to do laundry.

Good practice with regards to the provision of sufficient clothing
It is considered good practice to:

✓ avoid creating a ‘uniform appearance’ for all unaccompanied children (if clothing is provided in kind) as this helps to avoid stigmatisation;
✓ establish a ‘donation storage’ and connection with (humanitarian) NGOs with the purpose of acquiring and distributing of second-hand clothes;
✓ enable unaccompanied children to buy clothes for themselves as part of learning about economics.

STANDARD 38: Ensure that unaccompanied children possess adequate clothing.

Indicator 38.1: The clothing is reasonably fitting the unaccompanied children in terms of size.

  • Additional remarks: This also means that there must be a standardised way for unaccompanied children to receive new clothes when older clothes are outgrown.

Indicator 38.2: The clothing is in reasonably good condition and appropriate to the prevailing standard of the host society and the children’s background.

  • Additional remarks: Clothing items (except for underwear) do not need to be new, but should be in a good state.

Indicator 38.3: Adequate seasonal clothing is available.

  • Additional remarks: This means, for example, that unaccompanied children should possess a winter coat/Jacket, gloves, a winter hat, a cap, a winter scarf, winter shoes, where necessary.

Indicator 38.4: Sufficient clothing required for participation in school trips and extracurricular school activities are provided.

Good practice with regards to the provision of adequate clothing
It is considered good practice to:

✓ offer girls at least one extra veil as part of the set of clothes provided to them, based on request.


STANDARD 39: Ensure that unaccompanied children have access to sufficient and adequate personal hygiene products.

Indicator 39.1: A list exists specifying which type and quantity of personal hygiene products children of certain age and gender are entitled to receive.

  •  Additional remarks: This list is clearly communicated to the unaccompanied children.

Indicator 39.2: Necessary personal hygiene products are at the children’s disposal, either through regular distribution in-kind on a per capita basis or through the daily expenses allowance.

  •  Additional remarks: In order to maintain personal cleanliness, hygiene and prevention of infectious diseases, basic hygiene products should be at the children’s disposal. Those should include, for example: toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, soap, shampoo, shaver/shaving foam and sanitary pads. For children with babies, nappies and other hygiene products necessary for caring for babies should be included.

STANDARD 40: Ensure that unaccompanied children have access to other essential nonfood items

Indicator 40.1: Sufficient bed linen and towels are provided.

  • Additional remarks: If unaccompanied children are responsible for washing their bed linen, at least two sets are provided.

Indicator 40.2: Washing powder is available if unaccompanied children are responsible for washing their own clothes.

Indicator 40.3: Specific arrangements are in place for unaccompanied children with special reception needs.

  • Additional remarks: For example, unaccompanied children with physical disabilities or recovering from an injury or medical treatment can be provided with crutches, awheelchair or other medical equipment whenever these cannot be obtained elsewhere (from other agents such as the public health system). Unaccompanied children in need of vision correction should have access to glasses or contact lenses. Unaccompanied children with babies have access to a functional pram. Small children have access to toys in good condition and adapted to the age of the child.

Good practice with regards to the provision of access to other essential non-food items
It is considered good practice to:

✓ provide older children with access to an ironing set and a hair dryer where necessary.


STANDARD 41: Ensure that unaccompanied children enrolled in school or other education arrangements are provided with adequate clothing and school utensils enabling them to fully participate in all educational activities.

Indicator 41.1: Unaccompanied children who attend school or other education arrangements are provided with adequate clothing for school activities.

  • Additional remarks: This could include school uniform where mandatory, as well as sports clothing and shoes.

Indicator 41.2: Unaccompanied children who attend school or other education arrangements receive a school bag (backpack or other) and all school utensils required by the school free of charge.

  • Additional remarks: In addition to textbooks and other items required within the ordinary curriculum, school utensils could also mean necessary items for vocational training.

Indicator 41.3: Sufficient clothing required for participation in school trips and extracurricular school activities are provided.