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An objective report on Romania’s disabled children

Press Statement
Bucharest, 31st March 2007

A few months before Romania joined the EU, a series of controversial reports appeared about the harsh living conditions for disabled children in several institutions in Romania.  In order to investigate this situation comprehensively, The Children’s High Level Group charity took the initiative to commission a report called Assessment of Institutions for children with disabilities. 

Commissioned in July 2006, the objective of the report was to produce an independent, balanced and factual report of all institutions in Romania where disabled children are resident. The study was carried out by 125 independent Romanian experts and specialists, mainly from the NGO and academic sectors.

The report includes a series of policy recommendations for the Romanian government, outlining the most efficient ways in which conditions in these institutions can be improved.

This is the first time that such a detailed and comprehensive analysis of all residential services for disabled children has been carried out in Romania.  The study was coordinated by a joint committee made up of government experts, specialists from the Faculty of Sociology and Social Assistance (Bucharest University) and the Institute for the Quality of Life.  The Romanian government agreed to provide logistical and financial support by allocating funds to all Prefectures, which covered the costs of transport and accommodation for the assessors.

Ends

Background notes to editors:

1. The Children’s High Level Group (CHLG) was co-founded in 2005 by Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne MEP and the children’s author JK Rowling.  Its aim is to promote children’s rights all over Europe.
2. The report Assessment of Institutions for children with disabilities was done as a partnership between CHLG and the Romanian Government.  The costs were shared and all relevant ministries cooperated.
3. The Children’s High Level Group will commit itself to work with the Romanian government and NGOs to improve services for disabled children.