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Author
Annotation
The study provides an analysis of the legislative framework governing residential care for children in the Republic of Bulgaria and its alignment with international standards. The research also analyzes the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, discussed in light of the fundamental principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Special attention is devoted to Articles 3, 9, and 20UNCRC, which emphasize the child’s right to grow up in a family environment and the state's obligation to ensure appropriate care when a child is removed from their family. It is argued that residential care services must be a measure of last resort, and their application is subject to judicial review and periodic assessment. The paper analyzes the safeguards against unjustified placement in residential care, the prohibition of discrimination, and the role of the Social Assistance Directorate. The article highlights the necessity of harmonizing national timeframes for the review of placements with international standards on child protection.
Keywords
residential care; child protection; deinstitutionalization; best interests of the child; reintegration; alternative care; rights of the child
