The President signed the directive establishing the interdepartmental working group on October 6. The group brings together representatives from executive authorities, law enforcement agencies, and supervisory and judicial bodies. Among them are the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Sport, the Ministry of Justice, the Interior Ministry, the Investigative Committee, the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Prosecutor General’s Office, and the Supreme Court. Staff from the Commissioner’s Office, as well as regional children’s ombudsmen, are also involved in the group’s work.
When opening the meeting, Maria Lvova-Belova emphasised that a situation in which a child is permanently placed in an institution should never be considered normal. Efforts are therefore focused on ensuring that measures to prevent social orphanhood are carried out in a family-centred way, so that parents and children are not separated even in difficult life circumstances – unless, of course, the child’s life is at risk.
She noted that these principles are reflected in the Strategy for the Implementation of Family and Demographic Policy and Support for Large Families in the Russian Federation until 2036 and in the Concept for Improving the Work of Guardianship and Trusteeship Authorities with Minors.
The Commissioner underscored that the President of Russia has set a goal to halve the number of children living in institutions by 2030 – to 30,000 – through the expansion of family-preserving practices. She also pointed out that from July 2024 to October 2025, the number of children residing in childcare institutions at any given time dropped from 60,061 to 49,131, an 18.2 percent decrease.
During the meeting, participants reviewed a draft model regional action plan for developing a system of support for families and preventing social orphanhood until 2030. By April 2026, the Interdepartmental Working Group will finalise and present a corresponding Federal Plan.