Taking into account the views of children from boarding schools should be at the heart of the child protection system in Ukraine

On October 15, the research “Behind Closed Doors: The Dreams of Children in Boarding Schools” was presented, which allowed us to hear the voices of 500 children from boarding schools in Ukraine, including those with disabilities and high support needs. The project was implemented in cooperation with the Ukrainian Child Rights Network, the European Disability Forum, Social Synergy NGO, Children’s Voices, the DiYMO Office for Children and Youth, and the Ombudsman’s Office.

Lyudmyla Strashna, Director of the Ukrainian Child Rights Network, delivered a speech:

It is important to emphasize one key and fundamental idea: the participation of children, including those in residential institutions, especially children with high support needs, in decision-making processes is critical to building a just, inclusive and equitable society.

In general, taking into account the views of children from orphanages, especially those with high support needs, is not just a step towards a more just society. It is a necessary condition for us to build a system that truly works for everyone. The views of these children are not only a reflection of today’s challenges, but also a source of important information for making wise and long-term decisions.

Today, Ukraine is one of the world’s leading countries in terms of the number of children raised in residential institutions instead of family environments. These children face high risks of violence and abuse, which negatively affects their physical and mental health. They are also often not sufficiently prepared to live independently outside of these institutions, making them dependent on the system.

The war has further exacerbated these problems. The study presented today emphasizes the urgent need to reform child care and support systems, for the sake of Ukrainian children, the future human capital of the country, and in particular, because of Ukraine’s commitments in the context of joining the European Union. The voices of children in institutions are rarely heard, especially those with disabilities. Adults usually do not take their opinions into account, which leads to decisions based solely on adults’ perceptions of the “best interests of the child.” The lack of mechanisms for the proper integration of children’s views into decision-making processes exacerbates this problem.

The study covered more than 500 children living in institutionalized settings, 100 of whom have disabilities. The results once again showed an obvious but often neglected statement: children with disabilities are children like everyone else and also express their hopes, dreams and aspirations, whether through verbal or non-verbal forms of communication. If you really want to, you can find tools and techniques to find out what the child thinks. And again, the obvious result is now described as a proven fact: among the key aspects that all children emphasized were the desire to have family ties, social interaction, and opportunities for learning and creativity.

The findings also highlight that the institutional care system in Ukraine is based on a medical model of disability that does not take into account the individual characteristics and wishes of children. This creates a vicious circle where children are perceived as unable to learn or communicate, leading to even greater neglect of their needs.

The Ukrainian Child Rights Network unites 33 national and international non-governmental organizations and charitable foundations. It is a unique association of organizations that, among other things, serves as a think tank in the field of child rights protection in Ukraine. The purpose of the union is to ensure effective cooperation between civil society and government agencies to find and implement the best solutions that meet the highest international standards in the field of children’s rights and adapt them to Ukrainian realities.

The presented study, which was conducted with the initiative and support of the Union and direct participation of our network members, is another important step towards building an effective system of child protection in Ukraine. Its findings provide a solid evidence base that should contribute to the development of new approaches and recommendations to improve national policies and practices in the human rights sphere in general and the implementation of the deinstitutionalization reform in particular.

The experience of children in orphanages is unique and essential for a full understanding of how the system of care and support for children should function. Direct contact with real problems and challenges allows us to formulate policies that are truly relevant and will become the basis for change. Policymakers, authorities, and the public sector must create spaces where children’s voices are not only heard, but also taken into account as an important part of the decision-making process.

This applies not only to the development of laws and policies, but also to practical initiatives aimed at improving children’s lives. Involving children in these processes will allow for more adapted and realistic solutions that take into account the diversity of needs and experiences. As a result, this study will contribute to the implementation of best practices that meet both international standards and Ukrainian needs in order to ensure the best interests of children.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize once again the importance of this study, which for the first time allowed the voices of children from residential institutions in Ukraine, including those with disabilities, to be heard. This unique study not only raised important questions, but also outlined the key challenges these children face on a daily basis. We saw how critical it is to ensure that children have the right to a family environment, social interaction, and the opportunity to learn and develop in a favorable environment.

The results of this study should become the basis for real changes in the institutional care system. Children must be heard, and their needs must form the basis of the reforms currently underway in Ukraine, including in the context of EU accession. This study is a step forward to ensure that every child in Ukraine can grow up in a family environment, receive proper support and have their voice heard.

The text of the study “Behind Closed Doors: Dreams of Children in Institutions” is available on the UMDPL website. See also the report on the results of the study of living conditions, dreams and hopes of children in institutional care facilities “I’m Just Waiting to Come Home”.