This article reviews the series of major changes undergone by the Romanian child welfare system from 1990 to 2010, including the laws and governmental reform measures enacted, the shift in child population among various Romanian institutions and foster care homes, types of institutions available to children, level of care, shift in reasons for child abandonment, changes in ways children are routed through the system, and how these changes have effect children’s development, health, and psychological well-being.

This document was commissioned by the Regional Office for Europe of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (ROE OHCHR). One of its aims was to stimulate discussion at the Sub-Regional Workshop on the Rights of Vulnerable Children Aged 0 to 3 Years in Prague on 22 November 2011.

Selon la Loi organique du 29 mars 2011 instituant le Défenseur des droits, celui-ci est notamment chargé « de défendre et de promouvoir l'intérêt supérieur et les droits de l'enfant consacrés par la loi ou par un engagement international régulièrement ratifié ou approuvé par la France ». A l'occasion de la journée internationale des droits de l'enfant, le 20 novembre, le Défenseur présente son premier rapport consacré cette année, aux enfants accueillis en institution, plus particulièrement les moyens de défendre et de promouvoir leurs droits.

La Recommandation CM/Rec (2011)12 du Conseil de l’Europe sur les droits de l'enfant et les services sociaux adaptés aux enfants et aux familles traite de la question des droits des enfants dans la planification, la prestation et l’évaluation des services sociaux. Son objectif est de « veiller à ce que les services sociaux proposés tiennent compte des opinions de l’enfant compte tenu de l’âge de l’enfant, de son degré de maturité et de compréhension, de ses besoins ainsi que de sa situation individuelle ». 

This document stresses the importance of healthy attachments for children, especially looked after children. It provides an overview of attachment theory, presents the policy context of looked after children in Scotland, outlines the evidence on effective interventions for children in care and their families, and highlights findings and practice implications.

The main aim of this research is to enhance the understanding of why children in care in the UK are disproportionately likely to end up in the youth justice system or in custody.

This document contains the UK National Minimum Standards (NMS) applicable to the provision of adoption services.

This paper, written for a US audience, describes recent efforts to reduce child poverty by a peer country, Britain. Drawing on research carried out over the past decade, this paper summarizes what we know about Britain’s war on poverty, their likely next steps, and implications and lessons for the US.

The purpose of this paper is to provide background information and offer pragmatic steps in relation to priority no. 3 of the European Declaration on the Health of Children and Young People with Intellectual Disabilities and their Families: “To transfer care from institutions to the community”. The paper was produced in preparation for the conference in Bucharest, Romania 26-27 November, 2010.

The aim of this guidance is to improve quality of life of looked-after children and young people in England, including their physical health, and social, educational and emotional wellbeing. It focuses on and encourages organisations, professionals and carers to work together to deliver high quality care, stable placements and nurturing relationships for looked-after children and young people.