Children Are in the Spotlight: Liudmyla Shemelynets Held a Meeting with International Partners

First Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, Liudmyla Shemelynets held a meeting with Joel Borgström, the Senior Program Manager of the World Childhood Foundation, as well as the representatives of HealthRight International, led by Halyna Skipalska, the Head of the organization`s office in Ukraine. The parties discussed the key areas of cooperation aimed at strengthening the system for protecting children`s rights in Ukraine.

The Ministry is focusing its efforts on ensuring that every child has an opportunity to grow up in an atmosphere of safety and care. Special attention is given to children with disabilities, as they equally have the right to self-realization. Our task is to ensure that no child feels limited in their dreams and every child has all conditions necessary for full social integration. We highly value the longstanding work of World Childhood Foundation та HealthRight International in Ukraine. Protecting children, creating a safe and supportive environment for them is one of the priorities of our state. Through joint efforts with our international partners, we will be able to ensure a dignified future for our children,” said Liudmyla Shemelynets.

The representatives of the Foundation have presented the key areas of their activity in Ukraine, in particular the support for Barnahus Centers, of which there are already 15 in Ukraine, most of them are established during the war (these are protection and social psychological support centers in the justice process for children who have suffered and witnessed violence). They also shared the system for protecting children`s rights in Sweden and discussed possibilities for adopting this experience in Ukrainian context.

Within the meeting, the parties also discussed areas of the Ministry’s work where the targeted support of the Foundation could be effective.

It should be remembered, the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine strengthens its cooperation with the regions to ensure that every child grows up in the family environment.