National Strategy for solving the problems of children in difficulty

On May 31, the Government of Romania approved the National Strategy for protecting the children in difficulty, a document dedicated to preparing the legal, political and social ground for an increased compatibility of the country's regulations with those of the European Union.

The key elements of the strategy are in accordance with the most advanced criteria stipulated by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The Hague Convention and the current educational, social research related to child abandon and institutionalization.

Romania hopes to increase the current on-going processes of de-institutionalization, in the best interest of the children, by subsidizing the native families as a measure to discourage abandon, by working with central and local non-profit organizations that provide social assistance, education and family planning training, by promoting national adoption and, in appropriate situations, international adoption.

Although the number of institutionalized children decreased significantly by comparison with the situation in the '90s and the conditions in orphanages has also improved, the Government of Romania intends to push as much as possible the improvements of the situation of children in difficulty. Romania's commitment goes beyond the wish for a good image and it involves complex measures, mainly supported by internal resources, but also by the European Union and The United States.

The Government of Romania wishes to thank the international organizations (Commission of the EU, UNICEF, the World Bank) as well as to NGOs that contributed to the current Strategy for protection of the children in difficulty and is deeply grateful to all parties that will maintain support, patience and professionalism along the solving of a problem that has deep roots in the years of communist dictatorship.