‘Every child is entitled to protection, care and equal opportunities. So with her precious assistance UNICEFwe move directly to three reforms aimed to create an extra protection net for children and support for the parent” This was stated by the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Domna Michaelidou, during her meeting on Tuesday afternoon with a delegation of the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia. The meeting focused on three main axes, three reforms to children and families. Integration, protection, empowerment.

As Ms Michaelidou said, the ministry is redesigning community centers. ‘Our goal is for community centers to respond to active social policies, promote social integration and enhance social cohesion. Must be more open to society, acquire the tools to identify vulnerable families, and organize their strengthening“

At the same time, the ministry promotes the development of protocols for child protection. ‘Childhood protection is not the sole responsibility of our ministry, “Domna Michailidou noted, explaining:” Many ministries are involved and to this day there is no single protocol to define who is doing what and for what purpose. This affects children, especially those derived from vulnerable environments and are often found without a fixed support or are removed from their family context. There is a need to protect these children and ensure that they grow up with care, love and stability“

The third initiative concerns the consulting support of parents. ‘In a society that changes so rapidly, parents need to gain the ability to manage difficult behaviors from digital addiction to delinquency and value disorientation. Need tools and training at all stages of childhood“, The minister said.

The meeting was also attended by the Secretary General of Demographic and Housing Policy, Child Protection, Mr. Konstantinos Gloumis, while UNICEF Messrs. Aspasia Plakantonaki, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Greece, Aaron Greenberg, Child Protection Regional Advisor, Ivelina Borisova, Regional Adviser for Preschool Development, as well as Despina Karaberidou and Mariella Michaelidou, Children’s Protection.