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

published on 1/18/25 10:03 AM

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.

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

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