The event brought together representatives of government agencies, children’s rights commissioners from the regions, legal experts, and delegates from charitable and public organisations.
Opening the meeting, Maria Lvova‑Belova noted that, for the first time, the human rights institution was holding its own panel discussion within the framework of the St Petersburg International Legal Forum. This affords a valuable opportunity to address urgent matters of family preservation and to share, with a wide audience of legal professionals, practices of judicial and out-of-court protection of children’s rights to live and be raised in a family.
The Children’s Rights Commissioner underscored the significance of engaging as many committed professionals as possible – advocates, lawyers, and legal scholars – in this endeavour, both as experts and as allies in working with families.
Maria Lvova‑Belova indicated that the human rights institution has reached a mutual understanding with the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor General’s Office regarding assistance to families. Furthermore, the Office of the Commissioner closely collaborates with the judicial community: together, they address issues of judicial protection of the rights and legitimate interests of minors, the participation of regional children’s rights commissioners in court proceedings, the timeframes for examining civil cases on the restriction or termination of parental rights, their restoration, and the possibility of disregarding parents’ alimony arrears when reviewing disputes concerning the restoration of parental rights.
Documents drafted by the interdepartmental working group on assistance to families with children and the prevention of social orphanhood underpin efforts to safeguard each child’s right to live and be raised with their family. Thus, as Maria Lvova‑Belova stated, a model regional plan contains provisions to expand free legal assistance to families in difficult life situations, as well as to parents seeking to have their parental rights restored. At present, legislative acts to this effect have already been adopted in 49 regions across the country.
The Commissioner for Children’s Rights emphasised that the interdepartmental working group has prepared a draft of an improved technological map of the Ministry of Education, dedicated to working with parents who have their parental rights restricted or terminated. Particular emphasis is placed on out-of-court work and support for families following the return of the child to the family. The model plan and the technological map have already been sent to all regions.
As Maria Lvova‑Belova reported, in January, an agreement on cooperation was signed with President of the Federal Chamber of Lawyers Svetlana Volodina: it was agreed to involve lawyers in working with parents seeking to restore their parental rights. Similar cooperation agreements with regional lawyer associations have already been concluded by commissioners in all 89 regions.
The Commissioner for Children’s Rights further noted that the Foundation for the Protection of Children will make a positive contribution to the advancement of free legal assistance to families in crisis and for parents striving to restore their parental rights.