Context
In 2022, a subtle amendment to the law on children’s rights went unnoticed by civil society, making it possible to institutionalize children even if they are between 0-7 years old, in a foster care center on the grounds of lack of services, seriously affecting the child’s right to family and community development, although the Government has committed to close the foster care centers and ensure that every child lives in the biological family, foster family or with a Professional Foster Carer. Such cases have been documented by CLR in Mures County through direct interaction with children, families, County Directorate for Social Welfare and Child Protection – DGASPC employees, City Hall, and local NGOs. The child-parent separation had different causes: multiple discrimination (poverty, ethnicity, disability), lack of legal education/knowledge, including inability to defend oneself due to illiteracy or geographical isolation/social marginalization.
Aim and proposed outcomes
CLR aims to get in direct contact with the families of each of the 30 institutionalized children in order to provide them with information and concrete support in accessing the right to psycho-socio-medical services. Teams of experts and volunteers will be formed to provide services through the Mobile Clinic (physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers, lawyers), parents will be supported in formulating and supporting applications on behalf of institutionalized children/family members for the reintegration of children in families or at a Profesional Foster Carer or for accessing habilitation services in the community, amendments to Law no. 272/2004 will be formulated and supported, and national advocacy (media) and artistic (a performance of the show “I am Luli”) activities will be organized.
The project is run by the Center for Legal Resources, funded by the In Stare De Bine program, supported by Kaufland Romania and implemented by the Foundation for Civil Society Development.
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