The study reported by Shihning Chou and Kevin Browne explored the link between institutional care for young children and international adoption, using a survey of 33 European countries. The evidence suggests that, rather than reduce the number of children in institutions, international adoption may contribute to the continuation of this harmful practice. A child rights-based approach to providing alternative care for children separated from their parents is proposed.

Decision No. 1361 on the approval of the Framework Regulations on the Foster Care Service was enacted by the Government of the Republic of Moldova on December 21, 2007 in order to implement the Law on social assistance (No 547-XV as of December 25, 2003) as well as to achieve the National Strategy and Action Plan on the Reform of the Residential Childcare System for 2007-2012, approved by Government Decision No 784, as of July 9, 2007.

The International Foster Care Organisation's European Training Seminar will take place November 18-21, 2007 in Malta. The seminar is aimed at participants from the EU, EEA, CIS, CEE & North Africa, but welcomes people from around the world. It will be followed by the EuroChild annual conference.

This report is the product of an investigation spanning four years by Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI) into the human rights abuses perpetrated against institutionalized children and adults in Serbia. From July 2003 to August 2007, MDRI documented a broad array of human rights violations against people with disabilities, segregated from society and forced to live out their lives in institutions. 

On 31 October 2007, the Government of the Republic of Moldova issued Decision No. 1177 on the setting up of the Commission for the Protection of the Child in Difficulty and Approval of the Framework Regulations on the activity of the Commission. 

A resource site based on the first Regional Consultation on Child Care System Reform held in Sofia in early July. The consultation brought together 120 key social welfare delegates from Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, UN-administered Kosovo, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Turkey.

A clear, concise, and evidence-based summary of the effects of institutional care on children. Identifies key steps to transforming children's services to promote alternative care. Links to training resources at European Union Daphne Project website.

Dans ce plaidoyer qui s’étaye sur une longue expérience clinique les auteurs interrogent les défauts du dispositif de protection et d’aide à l’enfance. Les auteurs interpellent les professionnels afin que ceux-ci agissent chaque fois avec une implication renouvelée partant d’une évaluation précise de l’état de l’enfant et de sa famille.

This document is intended to provide concrete advice on how to put the guiding principles common to most child protection actors into practice. Though cultural traditions and customs may require the advice to be adapted to the specific context, the authors believe that the advice provided is grounded in sufficiently broad experience to guide measures that ensure children under five are not separated when this can be avoided, and, if separated, can be reunited with their families as quickly as possible.

The third newsletter of the European Coalition for Community Living. Articles focus on good practices in providing care for children with disabilities.