Uzbekistan to promote family type care over residential care for vulnerable children
01/03/2019 13:17
Uzbekistan to promote family type care over residential care for vulnerable children
01/03/2019 13:17
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A global UNICEF study of administrative data shows that Eastern Europe and Central Asia still has the highest rate of children in residential care with 666 children per 100,000 living in residential care - a rate that is over five times higher than the global average of 120. However, Uzbekistan’s governmental data from 2016 shows that that for every 100,000 children, 255 children live in institutions. This is below the regional average, but it is still much higher than the global average.
Experts believe that it is important to reduce this number by finding alternatives to sending children to institutions, where possible.
The recent Presidential Resolution about to strengthen protection of children deprived of parental care demonstrates the commitment of the Government to ensure the rights of the child to grow up in a supportive and caring family environment.
“UNICEF welcomes the action plan for de-institutionalisation in the Presidential Resolution, and we believe that children in ‘Mehribonliks’ homes will benefit from this. We recommend that similar measures should be expanded to other types of residential institutions too,” said Sascha Graumann, Representative, UNICEF Uzbekistan. “This will entail a comprehensive strategy for child care system reform in Uzbekistan, that must engage all the ministries and agencies responsible for child protection”, he added.
“Uzbekistan is taking measures to provide targeted support to families with children,” said Dilorom Tashmukhamedova, director of the Oila Center. “However, further development of family support services is needed, where professional social workers could provide qualified assistance to families, preventing the separation of the child from the family,” she noted.
Representatives of the governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as international experts participated in a Round Table to discuss proposals for implementing a long-term child care system reform in Uzbekistan. It was organized jointly by Oila’ Center and UNICEF.
The purpose of this Resolution is to ensure a transition from institutional care to family- and community-based care. For this, there is a need to strengthen social protection of vulnerable children and families, by providing them the social services and necessary benefits.
These benefits can address the needs of the families and resolve issues effectively at an early stage.
Participants at the Round Table discussed proposals for initiating and implementing a long-term child care system reform in Uzbekistan, where the strong social service workforce is a key element and driving force for the transition and development.
UNICEF is working with the Government and academia to promote and strengthen professional social workers and develop social work courses. Once properly trained and deployed, these professionals can build trust within communities, understand the situations that put children at risk, and work on individual cases where additional support is needed.
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