“No One Cares About Children These Days”: MP Sushko Declares the Child Protection System a Failure Following Decentralization
8 July 18:37
YOUTUBE
Following the decentralization reform in Ukraine, there is effectively no body left that bears direct responsibility for the protection of children. According to Pavlo Susko, a member of parliament and chair of the Verkhovna Rada’s Temporary Investigative Commission on the Protection of Children’s Rights, this has been one of the main causes of systemic problems in this area. He discussed this in an interview with the YouTube channel "Komersant Ukrainian"
According to the MP, after powers were transferred to local communities, it was never determined exactly who should be responsible for the timely identification of children in need of protection.
“No one cares about children today; no one is responsible for them. Ask any ministry: Who is responsible for children? No one,” he stated.
During the decentralization reform, local communities received most of the powers and financial resources, but the issue of child protection was left out of the reform, the MP continued. As a result, the state absolved itself of responsibility, while local authorities never assumed it.
Read us on Telegram: important topics – without censorship
Sushko explains that this is precisely why many children living in dangerous or dysfunctional families go unnoticed by the relevant services for years.
“During decentralization, all powers were transferred to local communities, except for those related to children. The state absolved itself of responsibility, and the communities did not assume it. That is why no one sees these children and no one identifies them,” he says.
In his view, Law No. 7087—which establishes the personal responsibility of communities for children living within their territory—should change this situation.
The bill provides for the creation of professional local child welfare services, as well as a clear division of authority between the state and local governments.
“The community is responsible, and the community leader must bear personal responsibility for the children living in the community,” the MP emphasized.
However, according to the deputy, despite the Verkhovna Rada’s support, the law has not yet taken effect.
“So until we address this legislative gap, we’ll be stuck with the situation we have now,” he concluded.
Watch us on YouTube: important topics – without censorship
