With the policies it pursues with respect to children, Bulgaria sets an example to the entire Balkan region, Head of State Rosen Plevneliev said during the talks he held with Anthony Lake, UNICEF CEO. The President outlined the Bulgarian achievements in the sphere of childcare and highlighted that Bulgaria is determined to complete the process of deinstitutionalization by 2025 and close down all institutes for accommodating children and replace them by a network of services which should meet each child’s the individual needs.
The Head of State and the UNICEF CEO exchanged opinions on the Bulgarian experience and the role of the organization in implementing the policies on children, including the development of alternative social services.
Bulgaria highly appreciates UNICEF’s contribution to the efforts of the international community to achieve sustainable development of the process of deinstitutionalization. The Bulgarian experience in the sphere of childcare could serve as an example for good practices and be an inspiration for other countries on their road to successful deinstitutionalization, President Rosen Plevneliev said.
The Head of State pointed out that childcare will also be included in the future National Programme for the Development of Bulgaria by 2030. The civil society will actively participate in working out the strategic document, President Rosen Plevneliev added.
At the talks it was highlighted that Bulgaria has a growing importance as a UNICEF partner in formulating and implementing policies and programs for child protection in the region. Bulgaria has the ambition to put the policies on children on the region’s agenda, using the mechanisms of the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP). As chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, our country will host the forum, where the new Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child 2016-2021 will be presented, the President further said.
The Head of State outlined before the UNICEF CEO the first steps Bulgaria will take in the sphere of juvenile justice reform. So far 14 “blue rooms” have been established in the whole country, the President recalled.
The Head of State voiced his gratitude for UNICEF's support and expressed the expectation that the organization will continue working with the Bulgarian government and civil society so as to guarantee the stability of the achieved results for children.
“I am convinced that UNICEF's model of work in Bulgaria can be used as a model in other countries in the region,” UNICEF CEO Anthony Lake commented. In his words, UNICEF will continue its joint work with the Bulgarian authorities on pilot projects and on the support of policies at the national level.
Anthony Lake also commented before President Rosen Plevneliev how scientific achievements can be used to formulate policies. “Criminalizing adolescent behavior means simply making these children criminals. I hope we can support the authorities in introducing prevention mechanisms instead. An adequate system for juvenile justice and services will help children to reintegrate in society,” Anthony Lake commented.
As part of his visit to Bulgaria at the Head of State’s invitation, Anthony Lake will hold talks with government representatives and will visit the Community Support Centre - Sofia with the Social Activities and Practice Institute and Sofia's Child Advocacy Centre.