Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

A campaign to advocate for family-based care for all children across the globe launched in Sofia

Minister of Labour and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov (R), UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy (M) and Irish actor Barry Keoghan (L) at the launch of the campaign.
Photo: Ministry of Labour and Social Policy

A global campaign focusing on the right of every child to grow up in a family environment has been launched in Sofia on the initiative of the UK government. As part of the campaign, the UK will lead a new global alliance to advocate for sustainable and lasting reform of children's social care around the world, according to a UK government press release

Six countries from 4 continents have already signed up to the alliance and are committed to driving progress on this issue. Partners include UNICEF, the UN Special Representative on Violence against Children, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, Paraguay, the Philippines and Rwanda. 

Bulgaria was chosen for the launch because of its highly successful experience in deinstitutionalising childcare, according to the Bulgarian Ministry of Social Affairs. The country's reform, which aims to have no children in institutions by the end of the year, began in 2010. From nearly 7,600 children in 137 medical-social care homes at the start, the number has now been reduced to 104 in three institutions. The only reason these homes have not yet been closed is because they accommodate children with multiple disabilities, the Department of Social Services added.

The launch was attended by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Ambassador Nathaniel Copsey, Irish actor Barry Keoghan, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev, Labour and Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov, ministers and the capital's Mayor Vasil Terziev.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

GERB claims employers seek higher VAT; employers refute assertion

The ruling GERB party claimed that employers are in favour of a higher VAT rate, but employer organisations denied this, insisting that no such proposal had ever been made. This clarification followed a meeting between GERB leader Boyko Borissov..

published on 11/11/25 4:29 PM

Key developments from the meeting of the Association of Bulgarian Folklore Ensembles Abroad

Ninety participants representing 57 Bulgarian folklore ensembles from across Europe and North America gathered in Sofia for their fourth Creative Meeting and Seminar. The event was highly constructive, featuring useful workshops and guest lecturers...

published on 11/11/25 4:05 PM

EU commission disburses €438.6 million to Bulgaria under recovery plan

The European Commission has disbursed €438.6 million to Bulgaria as part of the second payment under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). On 3 October 2025, the Commission partially approved the payment, stating that Bulgaria "still needs to..

published on 11/11/25 2:39 PM