2.8.4 Support Measures and Other Safeguards (a) Priority and Accelerated Processing Applications for refugee status by child Applicants may be processed on a priority basis where there is a clear protection benefit to do so, such as access to a durable solution or to rights or assistance in the host country/country of asylum. Where appropriate, Applications for refugee status by child Applicants may also be referred to accelerated procedures for processing within shorter timelines in accordance with § 4.6 – Accelerated RSD Processing. A decision to prioritize or accelerate the refugee status claim of a child Applicant should not be based on chronological age alone, but on a holistic assessment of a child’s specific needs and situation (see also § 2.8.4(e) – Considerations Relating to Age).7 This requires that mechanisms are put in place to identify claims by child Applicants, and any specific needs they may have, as soon as practicable. Accelerated processing should allow sufficient time for the child Applicant to understand relevant procedures and ensuing rights and obligations, and to prepare for their RSD Interview. While a child’s specific needs, vulnerabilities and circumstances may warrant a referral to accelerated processing, a careful assessment of the appropriateness of accelerated procedures must be conducted in every case. A child Applicant’s personal and contextual circumstances may, for instance, require longer processing timeframes to allow for other protection interventions, which may render accelerated processing inappropriate. Similarly, several RSD Interviews may be necessary to facilitate a meaningful participation of the child in the RSD process and a correct determination of his/her claim. As a general rule, where the claim of a child Applicant is related to the claims of accompanying family members, including where the child is applying for derivative refugee status, it will not be necessary or appropriate to process the child’s application on a priority and/or accelerated basis, unless the family members’ applications are also processed on a priority/accelerated basis or unless there are compelling reasons to do so. Referral of such cases for priority and/or accelerated processing should be made on a case-by-case basis, considering the individual vulnerability or special needs of the child. (b) Guardians Wherever appropriate and insofar as possible, a guardian may be designated for unaccompanied and separated child Applicants through established national frameworks for guardianship in the host country/country of asylum to assist the child in all stages of the RSD process and to ensure that the child is properly represented, that his/her views are expressed, and that any decisions taken are in his/her best interests.8 The appointment of a guardian for the purposes of UNHCR RSD procedures must be in the child’s best interests and not compromise the integrity and confidentiality of UNHCR RSD procedures. While UNHCR Offices must ensure that child Applicants receive age and gender appropriate information and, where needed, counselling regarding UNHCR RSD process and procedures, there is no requirement that UNHCR Offices appoint a guardian for unaccompanied and separated children outside a State guardianship scheme. 78 7 A more holistic approach to prioritization of claims has the advantage of preventing the chronological age from becoming a contested issue necessitating significant time and human resources to assess it, as well as of mitigating incentives for age-related fraud. 8 For the purposes of UNHCR mandate RSD procedures, the term “guardian” should be distinguished from the concept of “legal guardian” and, more generally, from other persons legally responsible for the child. Children who are accompanied by legal guardians are neither “unaccompanied” nor “separated” and, as such, will not need a guardian to assist them in UNHCR RSD procedures. Procedural Standards for RSD under UNHCR’s Mandate