The nationwide inspection is conducted on the instruction of the President. In Tuva, a team from the children’s rights commissioner office spent several days auditing 12 residential institutions for children.
At a meeting with the Head of the Republic of Tuva Vladislav Khovalyg Maria Lvova-Belova highlighted several effective practices in the region: a state rehabilitation centre that assists with overcoming alcohol addiction and a centre that provides day-time services to children with disabilities.
During the monitoring, several issues were identified and discussed. Maria Lvova-Belova noted the concerning rise in repeated placements of children in institutions, unjustified hospitalisations, and the disruption of family ties when children are placed in boarding schools. Vladislav Khovalyg noted that the region is committed to making changes aimed at reducing the number of children in institutions and preserving birth families.
During the trip, the Commissioner visited the Republican Children’s Hospital, the Social Rehabilitation Centre for Minors, and the Centre for Social Assistance to Family and Children in Kyzyl.
Maria Lvova-Belova, along with the head of the region, held an extended format meeting with heads of organisations and institutions involved in preventing neglect and delinquency among minors, as well as with members of the interdepartmental commission on minors’ affairs and protection of their rights under the government of the Republic of Tuva. She emphasised the region’s high birth rate and urged increased efforts to support family sustainability and home-based child-rearing.
The Commissioner stressed that the primary goal of the nationwide inspection is to assist the country’s regions in reassessing their current situations and identifying opportunities for growth through a family-oriented approach. Currently, preventive measures are often limited to discussions with parents, fines, and a minimal set of social services and assistance. However, it is essential to create comprehensive conditions that help families overcome difficulties and maintain a family environment for children. She highlighted the importance of informing parents, whose children are in institutions, about the types of support available. Additionally, to prevent the separation of children and parents, developing a network of family-oriented non-profit organisations is crucial.
Based on the monitoring results, Maria Lvova-Belova proposed collaboratively developing a regional programme to prevent social orphanhood. Additionally, the Commissioner held a personal reception to address citizens’ concerns about family support and met with representatives of non-profit organisations.
At the conclusion of her working trip, the Commissioner participated in the national holiday Naadym and familiarised herself with the culture of the people of Tuva.