The results and recommendations of the nationwide inspection of the system for the prevention of social orphanhood were presented to Vladimir Putin in early June. As Maria Lvova-Belova reminded during her meeting with Tula Region Governor Dmitry Milyayev, on the instruction of the President, a nationwide family support service will be established to implement these recommendations.
The Commissioner for Children’s Rights noted that the region had carefully considered the inspection’s recommendations. In particular, significant progress had been achieved through the project to prevent social orphanhood among children under four years old (Tula Region being one of its pilot areas). Over two years, the number of infants in orphanages decreased by 51 percent.
During the meeting with heads of the social orphanhood prevention system bodies, the Children’s Commissioner highlighted areas for improvement: providing more active support to parents seeking to regain parental rights and assisting families overcoming crises.
For his part, Tula Region Governor Dmitry Milyayev stated that work to prevent social orphanhood and preserve families would continue. He emphasised that all recommendations remained under his personal oversight.
During the meeting with Tula Regional Court Chairman Igor Khoroshilov, the Commissioner addressed issues of judicial protection of minors’ rights and family preservation.
For the first time in her tenure, Maria Lvova-Belova personally participated in court proceedings at the Kireyevsky District Court of the Tula Region. The court’s opinion was in favour of the mother of many children who had filed a petition seeking reinstatement of parental rights. The woman was deprived of the rights regarding her three eldest children seven years prior.
The court ruled in the family’s interests – to return the children to their mother – and took into account the Commissioner’s position that the decision should take immediate effect. The woman took her three children home.
Additionally, Maria Lvova-Belova visited Social Rehabilitation Centre for Minors No. 1, where she reviewed children’s personal files and spoke with families.