International Programmes: Romania

• Project: Developing the Child Protection and Child Care system
• Addressing complex issues in adoption reform and developing management structures and childcare policies with the Romanian Government; analysing legislation and professional guidelines on child welfare and protection.
• Partners: UNICEF Romania/ DfID and Romanian National Authority for the Protection of Children's Rights (NAPCR)
• Time frame: 2000-2005

From October 2000 to April 2005, Coram Children's Legal Centre carried out a bilateral programme of cooperation between the British Department for International Development (DFID) and the Romanian National Authority for the Protection of Children's Rights (NAPCR). The project was developed to assist and support the Romanian Government in addressing the needs of children, particularly those in the care system and their families, and in implementing its strategic objectives. The initial framework of the programme focused on the effective coordination of Romania's child welfare policy, on increasing the capacity of the National Authority through effective systems at central and local levels and on enhancing capacity at a local authority ('judet') level for the implementation of services that respond to the needs of children and their families.

In more practical terms, the programme mainly and extensively addressed the development of:

• A process of reforms in order to address complex and contentious issues on adoption;
• Management structures and of a staff-training programme for the National Authority;
• Childcare policies and their implementation;
• A system of accreditation for childcare NGOs;
• Both primary and secondary legislation in the field of childcare; and
• Professional guidelines across the range of childcare services, particularly on the implementation of legislation, policies and strategies.

Further Information: System Reform ; Law Reform ; Training ; Child Rights

Click here to visit the Children and Armed Conflict Unit's country profile of Romania.