Child Protection Priorities – policy and practice in Tajikistan SECOND CHILD PROTECTION FORUM: “Building and Reforming Child Care Systems in Central Asia” Mrs.
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Child Protection Priorities – policy and practice in Tajikistan SECOND CHILD PROTECTION FORUM: “Building and Reforming Child Care Systems in Central Asia” Mrs. Dilorom Mirsaidova, Head of Department on Youth, Sport and Tourism of the Presidential Office and Deputy Chair of the Commission on Child Rights under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Bishkek 2009 1 Child Protection Agenda in the Sector POLICIES - PROGRAMS - National Plan of Action 2003-10 PRSP Document - NCCR Plan of Action for 2008-09 - NDS Paper - Social Work Profession Program - Concept Strategies - Governmental Decrees - Laws and normative acts - Judicial Reform Program 2007-15 - Policy Program on Social Protection Sector PRACTICES - Social work practice in institutions - Gate keeping system development - Non residential care service concepts 2 Republic of Tajikistan - Child Protection System Republican level Presidential Office Cabinet of Ministers Council of Justice Ministry of Justice Ministry of the Interior Judges Training Centre Temporary Isolation Centre Inspection on Minors Republican level residential institutions Oblast level Oblast Level Departments Deputy Prime Minister Ministry of Education Pre-Trail Centre (SEZO) Ministry of Health Special Vocational School Juvenile Colony (boys) Special School Women Colony (girls) Boarding Schools Khatlon Inspection on Minors Oblast level residential institutions GBAO Institutions for Children with Disabilities Girls’ Support Centre (coming) Social work resource centre Schools for Children with Disabilities Boarding Schools Child Rights Commissions (GA and COM to be absorbed by Child Rights Commissions) Dushanbe (part of RSS) Child Rights Departments (in 2 oblast) Orphanages Guardianship Authority District/City Khukumat City Department of Interior Social Assistance at Home units Women Crisis Centres Scientific Research Institute on Social Protection RRS City/ District Level Departments Social Protection Departments National Committee on Women’s and Family Affairs Agency on Social Protection Sughd Baby Homes National Commission on Child Rights Dept. on Family and Children Baby Homes Oblast Temporary Isolation Centres District/ City level Ministry of Labour and Social Protection Commission on Minors Child Rights Commissions (GA and COM to be absorbed by Child Rights Commissions) Child Rights Departments (in 9 pilot areas) Inspectors on Minors Guardianship Authority Child Youth Centres (JJAP projects) Policlinics (PMPC/PEC) Commission on Minors 3 Child Protection System Management Ministry National Commission on Child Rights Secretariat Oblast body Oblast Commission on Child Rights Oblast Child Rights Departments Rayon Commission on Child Rights City rayon body Rayon Child Rights Departments 4 What worked/Impact of changes • Effective gate-keeping preventing children who are not in need of child protection services from entering the institutions (more than 3000 prevented and 1500 children de-institutionalised in 8 pilot districts) • Decree of the Government on the Regulation of Commission on Child Rights under the Government of Republic of Tajikistan, dated 1st of August with reference to #377 • Child Rights Departments (8 pilot districts so far) replacing the COM and Guardianship at district level • De-institutionalization policy (3 transformed institutions into secondary schools with some prolonged out of school education classes) and introduction of current notions of good social work practice, including investigation, assessment and care planning • Social Work profession recognized as a Profession by the Government and clustered under the Social Protection sector early 2008 • Social Work Resource Centre established under the Scientific Research Institute of MLSP in 2005 (13 students entitled with Diploma of Stockholm University) • Social Work Specialized Department in the Tajik State National University framed by the education curriculum of the Ministry of Education in 2008 (first 20 students of first course for the profession) • Social Protection Department on Family and Children in the structure of Ministry of Labor and Social Protection and revision of the Regulation of the Social Assistance at Home Units to focus policy development for vulnerable children • Attempts have been made to develop a minimum standards for residential care boarding schools to regulate the policy of institutional care institutions opening at all levels (EC is assisting the MLSP to do for institutions with children with disabilities) • Community based services have been set up in several selected districts during 2004 – 2008 (PMPC, 5 PEC, JJAP, Day Care Centers, Girls Support Centre concept etc) How we have brought about the changes? • Commission on Child Rights has set up a policy framework for determining target groups who are children in most difficult circumstances (children with disabilities, children in institutions, children faced violence in family environment and children in conflict with law) • Coordination sessions between the sectors and oblast levels of governance have been organised to clarify the mandates to make sure there is no duplication but supplementation in policy realisation at district level • Evidence based recommendations of Commission on Child Rights in amending the existing legislation of Tajikistan (situation analysis, evaluations, data base development etc) • Looking for the costs and benefits of current and more developed policy aimed at mainstreaming/replacing the good practices in the Child Protection system to integrate them in regular practice of statutory organs (CRD, PMPC, Guardianship etc) • Fragmentation of responsibilities at local level has been investigated and analysed for the purpose of reforming existing Child Protection system (Guardianship, Commission on Minors, Child Rights Departments, Committee on Women and Family affairs, social assistance at home etc) • Available services under the social sector were analysed in discussion with the parents and children at community level to be effective and efficient in determining the package of state services (only residential care institution avails so far as a response to the family problems) 6 Issues to watch Commission on Child Rights will be further watching the following issues in its Agenda under the framework of its newly approved Regulation: Minimize duplication of efforts at district level through intensifying the process of Child Rights Departments establishments as a unique policy implementing organ of the Commission on Child Rights (should replace COM and Guardianship fully in the coming three years) Decentralize policy development and financial decision power aimed at decision making on administrative structures at district level as a follow up to the realization of NCCR Plan of Action issued in March 2009 Integrate and replicate good child protection models with emphasis on policy development and budget allocation (PMPC, PEC, Girls support centre etc) Intensify monitoring process of the Commission on Child Rights at oblast and district levels in coordinating, facilitating and ensuring quality of existing or developed services for vulnerable group of population in districts (institutions, day care rehabilitation centre, NGO led projects etc) Develop a procedural guidance for child protection cases (as a follow up to the approved Child Protection Policy for children in closed institutions) aimed at improving rapid response system to register, refer, report and rehabilitate the cases of violence against children Continue collecting evidences for ensuring funding allocation or re-allocation against the public expenditure to new innovative practices benefiting children in need of special protection measures 7 Focus of Engagement in the Next Cycle • Continuum of services: family support services (replication of PEC, Day Care Centres, Consultative Centres, etc ) and family substitute care (guardianship, trusteeship, adoption) • Gatekeeping system: new statutory functions (CRD, PMPC, Social Protection Department for Family and Children), minimum standards, child protection guidance, licensing, inspections • Well planned deinstitutionalization: closure, downsizing and transformation of residential institutions, coupled with the provision of alternative care options • Development of occupation: social work profession (MLSP, SWRC, TSNU, Institutions, Centres) and psycho-social specialists to institutions • Social Protection Transfers Policy: better targetteng for cash transfer assistance (disability pension, child care allowances, orpahns pension, survivors pension, cash compensation payment) 8