Protecting the Rights of the Child – Announcement of 29 civil society organizations

A joint statement was issued by 29 bodies of Civil Society on the institutional framework that ensures the proper functioning of child protection structures.

The announcement:

The co-signatory organizations of Civil Society emphasize the need for an institutional framework that ensures the proper functioning of child protection structures, the strengthening of deinstitutionalization and the holistic reform of child protection for the benefit of children. This need is based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the commitments of the United Nations and the European Union on Deinstitutionalization, the scientific community as a whole, as well as the Special Report of the Ombudsman for Child Protection in Greece.

Greece, despite the declared intentions of the State, remains one of the last countries in Europe that does not have a strong unified institutional framework for child protection.

Welfare Institutions must operate with control and specifications

Until today, child protection structures in Greece operated without control, without certification based on quality standards of care and services and without the minimum measures of mandatory implementation of proper operation. Research shows that more than 75% of closed institutions and structures operate without quality, pedagogical or other specifications. It is necessary to have a unified institutional framework that ensures the necessary quality standards at the national level, for all institutions – private, public and ecclesiastical.

Deinstitutionalization is one way

It is scientifically proven that institutional care is not the best framework for children and their development. Closed-ended protection structures can not provide the personalized care, attention and love that every child needs to develop properly and therefore can not serve their individual needs or function in their best interests – a fundamental principle of their Rights. Child.

That is why in Europe deinstitutionalization – the gradual transition of closed structures to alternative, family-type care models – has been around for years and is a reality in almost every country. Best practice in child protection, when a child has to be removed, is to place him / her immediately in a family environment through foster care.

Child Protection in our country must be established as a Unified System

The importance of Family Prevention and Empowerment Services is internationally clear and scientifically proven, as a vulnerable family has been shown to be at multiple risk of family problems that can contribute to the removal of children.

Following in the footsteps of the last five years, further holistic reform of the entire child protection process is needed – from supporting the vulnerable family to placing children in foster care. This holistic reform concerns the social services in the Regions, the social services in the Municipalities, but also the primary provision of health and mental health services.

The protection of vulnerable children is non-negotiable and must be a national priority. More and holistic institutional reforms are needed for the effective protection of vulnerable children by the State. It is also necessary to mobilize in this direction all the Institutions that fight for child protection in our country.

The co-signatory organizations of Civil Society

1. JUMP
2. Amymoni Panhellenic Association of Parents, Guardians and Friends of Persons with Visual Impairment and Additional Disabilities
3. Network for the Rights of the Child
4. Network of Service Providers for People with Disabilities
5. Union of Gentlemen of Drama
6. Union Together for the Child
7. Margarita Special Education Laboratory
8. Society for the Protection of Spasticity
9. European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD)
10. George & Catherine Hatzikonsta Foundation
11. The Children’s Shelter Foundation
12. “Hadjipaterion” Social Work Foundation
13. Ι.Π.Α.Π The Virgin
14. Center for Special People “HARA”
15. AMKE Roots Research Center
16. Child and Adolescent Center
17. Care
18. The Friends of Care
19. The Child’s Friends
20. SOS Children’s Villages of Greece
21. Pammakaristos – Foundation for the Child
22. Panhellenic Association Fight Against Juvenile Diabetes
23. Πώες Ε.Ψ.Υ.Μ.Ε.
24. Breath Friends Intensive Care Child
25. Cohabitation
26. Social Pathways ΚοινΣεΠ
27. Tandem NGO
28. Terre des Hommes Hellas
29. Friends of the Virgin

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