UNHCR and Greek institutions have spoken out about specific aspects of the protection of unaccompanied migrant and refugee children. A UNHCR-sponsored report about reception conditions for vulnerable groups in 2004 called on the government to enhance reception conditions, to refrain from detaining children, and to expand access to services for children who have not asked for asylum.20 In 2005, the Greek Ombudsman published a special report about the detention and deportation of migrant children. It urged the government to refrain from such practices and to replace deportation procedures with repatriations that respect children’s rights. The government was further called upon to identify, register, and provide adequate care to all unaccompanied children in the country.21 Jointly with the UNHCR, the Ombudsman also issued in 2005 a comprehensive set of guidelines for the treatment of unaccompanied children seeking asylum.22 The Greek Council for Refugees published a Plan of Action in 2006.23 The Greek National Commission for Human Rights, in early 2007, called on the government to refrain from detaining children, to systematically register, identify, and represent children, to adopt a formal age assessment procedure, and to provide adequate accommodation.24 Greek Law and the Protection System for Unaccompanied Children Greek legislation to a certain extent recognizes the government’s obligations to care for and protect unaccompanied migrant children. 20 Theodora D. Tsovili and Efithia Voutira, “Asylum seeking single women, women head of families and separated children: Reception practices in Greece,” October 2004, http://www.antigone.gr/listpage/selected_publications/greece/070427.pdf (accessed August 27, 2008). 21 Greek Ombudsman, “Special Report: Administrative Detention and Deportation of Alien Minors,” October 2005, http://www.synigoros.gr/reports/SR-detention-expulsionOCTOBER-2005.pdf (accessed August 12, 2008). For a list of publications by the Greek Ombudsman on unaccompanied children since 2004, see http://www.synigoros.gr/pdfs/Stp_Unaccomp_minors2004-2007.pdf (accessed August 19, 2008). 22 Greek Ombudsman and UNHCR, “Guidelines on Children Seeking Asylum,” Athens, June 7, 2005, http://www.synigoros.gr/docs/odigies_prosfigon.pdf (accessed August 18, 2008). The UNHCR commissioned a study to assess the adherence to these guidelines in 2007. See Papageorgiu and Georgia Dimitropoulou, “Unaccompanied Minors Asylum Seekers in Greece,” April 2008, http://hosting01.vivodinet.gr/unhcr/UAM_english.pdf (accessed August 18, 2008). 23 Greek Council for Refugees, “Separated Children in Greece: Concerns and Suggestions,” September 20, 2006. 24 Greek National Commission for Human Rights, “Observations regarding the issue of Unaccompanied Minors,” February 15, 2007, http://www.nchr.gr/media/gnwmateuseis_eeda/paidia/unaccompanied_minors15022007.doc (accessed August 12, 2008). 15 Human Rights Watch December 2008