The meeting was attended by representatives of non-profit organisations, the business and academic communities, and regional commissioners for children’s rights.
Opening the meeting, Maria Lvova-Belova noted that the final report presents an up-to-date overview of the system for the prevention of social orphanhood, identifying existing contradictions as well as areas requiring additional solutions and changes. The document highlights key aspects such as legal regulation, funding mechanisms, and interagency cooperation. It also includes proposals for further developing the system for preventing social orphanhood at both the federal and regional levels.
The Children’s Rights Commissioner emphasised that the President of Russia supported the proposal to establish a nationwide family support service, which will serve as a resource and methodological centre for system-wide change. In addition, an interagency task force on family preservation and the prevention of social orphanhood will be created under the leadership of the Children’s Rights Commissioner.
Maria Lvova-Belova urged representatives of non-profit organisations to reassess their social programmes with a greater focus on supporting families in crisis, to work more actively with government bodies, and to expand alternatives to institutional care.
Participants acknowledged the importance of the work underway and put forward their own proposals to improve efforts to prevent social orphanhood.