Our Senior EU Advocacy Lead Irina Papancheva reports on three recent key meetings on the future of care reform in Ukraine.
The international taskforce
A couple of weeks ago, the Ukraine International Advocacy Task Force, co-chaired by Hope and Homes for Children and Lumos, launched its Recommendations to the EU on the reform of Ukraine’s child protection and care system at a reception event.
The event was hosted by the Bulgarian MEP Hristo Petrov, Chair of the European Child Guarantee Working Group and Vice-Chair of the Child Rights Intergroup.
Halyna Postoliuk, Hope and Homes for Children Ukraine Director, and Natalia Shygonska, Lumos Ukraine Director, presented the overarching recommendations, which were to:
- Maintain political and financial support for the reform.
- Support the Government of Ukraine in ensuring the reform is holistic, inclusive and sustainable.
- Continue to promote partnership with civil society and persons with lived experience.
These were followed by short interventions by the Ukraine Child Rights Network, the European Commission, the Ukraine authorities, a self-advocate with lived experience and UNICEF.
‘Our story, our reality’
“For us, the reform of the child care and support system is more than a policy agenda – it is our story, our reality, our pain, and our hope,” said Kyrylo Nevdokha, Head of the Office of Children and Youth “DIyMO” at the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine who has lived in institution since birth.
He emphasized the essential nature of shifting the focus from institutions to community-based services; transparent and coordinated funding; prioritizing family-based care for children; involvement of people with lived experience – not as a token gesture, but as a necessity.
EU and Ukraine: the way forward
‘As a member of the European Parliament, and Vice-Chair of the Child Rights Intergroup, let me emphasise that children’s rights and wellbeing remain a central priority for the EU, and we are strongly committed in our support for Ukraine’s reform journey,’ MEP Petrov said.
He ended his speech with reaffirming the EU collective commitment: “a Ukraine where every child can grow up in a safe, loving, and supportive family is possible. Together — with political will, sustained investment, and the involvement of civil society and young people — we can make this vision a reality.”
Benoit Mesnard, Head of Unit Economic and Sectoral Policies, Ukraine Service, DG ENEST, European Commission said that the child protection and care is a global priority for the EU and it will continue to support the reform in Ukraine but it is important that Ukrainian government fund it as well.
“Children are the future of Ukraine, we should not let them down,” he added.
“It is a priority to ensure we provide a nurturing environment for children in need,” H.E. Iryna Postolovska, Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine for European Integration and stressed that the recommendations are fully in line with government priorities. However, “Ukraine has minimal resources and external support is greatly needed.”
“Better Care Reform is not optional, it’s essential,” said Iryna Tuliakova, Head of the Coordination Center for Family Upbringing and Child Care Development, Ukraine. “We have one shared goal – no more children living in institutions,” she added.
A consultation group meeting
In early July, the Council of Europe Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU) – of which Hope and Homes for Children is a member – held its regular two-day meeting in Strasbourg. As usual, it contained a session on the Better Care Reform.
“Children coming from institutional care and not integrated in the system in the reception countries has been one of the big gaps in the response,” said Jean-Claude Legrand, CGU Facilitator.
Kateryna Novokhatnia gave an update on how the strategy implementation is moving forward and presented some of the 38 monitoring indicators aligned with the 6 objectives of the strategy.
In her words, it is envisaged that the share of orphans and children deprived of parental care placed in family based care will increase to 95% by 2028.
“As of the end of 2024, five regions have already reached or exceeded this percentage,” she said.
“Over 25,000 children still live in institutions and 82 percent of them have living parents, showing strong potential for reintegration if families are supported,” she said.
“Only 4 hromadas (0.3%) offer the full set of services prior itised in the Strategy to support children and families,” she added.
Novokhatnya shared a call for Technical Exchange and Best Practices in the following key areas:
- Foster care for children with disabilities
- Monitoring systems
- Detection and response to abuse and violence
- Psychosocial rehabilitation and reintegration
- Prevention of child relinquishment
- Integrated life-course support.
Taking stock
A high-level stock-taking session on the situation of the children of Ukraine followed the CGU meeting.
Every child has the right to be himself and not to be part of an institution,” said Hon Michael Falzon, Minister for Social Policy and Children’s Rights of Malta, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of Europe.
Iryna Postolovska, Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine for European Integration: “We need to ensure that we avoid the dangers of institutionalisation,” and described the services the country is developing in the framework of the Better Care Reform with EU support.
The afternoon session was devoted to children with disabilities.
“A total of 159,811 children with disabilities (of whom 40% girls) are living in Ukraine, according to Ministry of Heath’s June 2024 data. The governments admits the critical need of family-based solution. Successful coordination has proven essential for comprehensive responses that address complex needs. Better data is also crucial,” said Elayn Sammon, Independent Expert.
“Institutional care should never be the default option, not even during war. States must seek family care and communiyu-based options. Children with disabilities have the right to be heard and to help shape the services. We don’t have to only speak about that but also speak with them,” stressed Mariana Ianachevici, Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
“Finding family-based solutions for children with disabilities is possible,” was the main message of Halyna Kurylo, Head of Disability Rights International Ukraine.
Yulia Boiko, member of a CSO created by parents of children with disabilities brought the parents’ perspective and their need of support for their stability and of services that lead of inclusivity.
The various high-level and expert events focused on Ukraine children in the past weeks have sent a strong message about all stakeholders’ commitment to bringing all Ukrainian children back to families. Working together and staying focused on this shared vision for as long as it takes will be essential for its achievement.
