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15/03/07
EveryChild’s input to reforming the child care system in Ukraine has been recognized by the Ukrainian Government
The All-Ukrainian meeting “With Love and Care to Children” held on Tuesday, 13 March 2007 was chaired by the The President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko. The Deputy Prime Minister, both the Ministers for Family, Youth and Sport and the Minister of Education, State governors, National Ombudsman, City mayors, representatives of non-governmental organizations, including children – leaders of Ukrainian children public organizations got together in order to discuss how to improve child protection system and to summarize results of the past 2006 year, which was officially announced as the Year of Children Rights Protection in Ukraine.In his speech the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko said it is the family that should be the main environment for every child’s development and upbringing. He added over the past years there had been “radical” positive changes in the attitude of the society towards orphans, children deprived of parental care or separated with their families. “It must be a great honour for the adult citizens of Ukraine to take care of their own child or the orphaned child in a family”. He highlighted also the importance of the development of the alternative forms of child care (e.g. family type children homes) as the way of reforming the child care system of Ukraine. “I regret to admit the existence of large state care institutions in the country, where 37,000 children are placed under the state care”, Mr. Yushchenko told.At the same time Deputy Prime Minister Dmytro Tabachnyk admitted that during 2006 with the joint state and public efforts it has become possible to reach positive changes in family-based forms of care for children, to regulate state budget finance allocations for foster families and family-type children homes, and to spur the process of development of the family-based solutions. While speaking on child care reform, Mr. Tabachnyk recognized vast support provided by the civic sector for the development of the innovative forms of child care. Established co-operation between the Government and such non-governmental organizations as EveryChild, Hope and Homes, Christian Children Foundation in Ukraine contributed significantly to more effective implementation of the reform and proved that family based care for children is more effective.
During the meeting President of Ukraine outlined main priorities in state work towards ensuring children rights in 2007. They include:· passing and enforcing a law on the fulfillment of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child;· promoting and encouraging adoption;· introducing financial aid mechanisms to support children;· eradicating homelessness among children;· reforming the system of orphanages and children’s homes.