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

The photo is illustrative

Protest disrupts traffic in the region of Danube Bridge

A peaceful civic protest under the motto “Protecting our children – car procession and blocking traffic on Danube Bridge” will take place on Saturday. The participants will start from the municipal parking lot next to the National Revenue Agency..

published on 4/26/25 10:10 AM

Bulgarian opera singers with concert in Grasse to mark 145th anniversary of Bulgarian-French diplomatic relations

Vice President Iliana Iotova is paying a visit to Grasse, France at the invitation of the town mayor Mayor Jerome Viaud and the local cultural association Centre d'Art des Collines de Grasse. The visit marks the 145 th anniversary of the..

published on 4/26/25 9:52 AM

PM Zhelyazkov heads the Bulgarian delegation at the funeral of Pope Francis

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov will lead the Bulgarian delegation to the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome , Italy, the Cabinet’s press office announced. The delegation also includes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications..

published on 4/26/25 8:05 AM