The Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, SG REFORM, and UNICEF are launching a program funded by the European Union

ATHENS 09 JULY 2026 — A new project titled “Modernising Child Protection and Child Rights Governance in Greece” was launched today in Athens, aiming to support national efforts to strengthen the country’s child protection system and child rights governance.

The project is co-funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument and implemented by UNICEF, in cooperation with the European Commission’s Reform and Investment Task Force (SG REFORM) in support of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs. Over a 24-month implementation period, the project will provide technical support to the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs and other relevant authorities to promote more coordinated, evidence-based and child-centered policies for children and families.

Greece has taken important steps in recent years to strengthen child protection and child rights policies, including the establishment of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs, the advancement of deinstitutionalization and family-based care, the development of early childhood intervention services, and the implementation of the National Action Plan under the European Child Guarantee.

At the same time, persistent challenges remain, including fragmented responsibilities across sectors and levels of governance, gaps in prevention and early intervention, limited monitoring and accountability mechanisms, and the need for stronger child-related data systems.

Through this project, UNICEF will provide technical support in three interconnected areas: (i) the operationalisation of the National Mechanism for Monitoring and Evaluation of Action Plans on the Rights of the Child; (ii) the formulation of a new National Action Plan on the Rights of the Child; and (iii) the development of an effective consolidated governance mechanism for a  child protection system.

The project will also support the development of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework for the new National Action Plan on the Rights of the Child, technical and functional specifications for a child data portal, and capacity building for relevant authorities on the monitoring and evaluation framework of the National Action Plan on the Rights of the Child.

“Protecting children is one of the most important responsibilities of any society. It means preventing harm before it happens, supporting families, responding quickly and effectively when a child is at risk, and making sure that every child can grow up safe, protected and respected,” said Dr. Ghassan Khalil, UNICEF Representative in Greece during his Opening Remarks at the launch event.

“Every child deserves to grow up in safety, with protection and equal opportunities. The launch of this project marks another important milestone in Greece’s efforts to modernise its child protection system. With the support of the European Union and UNICEF, we are strengthening the foundations of a more coordinated, evidence-based and child-centred system that delivers better outcomes for children and families. Working together with our European partners, and under the leadership of Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs Domna Michailidou, we are investing in stronger governance, improved coordination and more effective policies to ensure that no child is left behind.” , said Konstantinos Gloumis Atsalakis, Secretary General for Demographic and Housing Policy at the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs,

Opening the event on behalf of the European Commission, Dorina Giouroukou, Policy Officer in the European Pillar of Social Rights Unit at SG REFORM, underlined that protecting children’s rights and safeguarding children from violence are core EU priorities. Referring to the Commission Recommendation on integrated child protection systems, she noted: “This project will help strengthen coordination among authorities and services at all levels, a key condition for ensuring effective child protection.”

The launch event brought together representatives of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs, the European Commission, UNICEF and key national stakeholders to mark the start of the project and discuss its implementation priorities, including detailed presentations on government priorities and the project’s scope, as well as a technical discussion on implementation arrangements, stakeholder engagement, timelines and next steps.

The Project’s expected contribution is to support Greece in strengthening the foundations of a more coherent, accountable and child-centred protection and child rights governance system — one that supports better use of data, stronger accountability, systematic monitoring of progress and more informed decision-making.

About the Technical Support Instrument
The Technical Support Instrument is the European Union programme that provides tailor-made technical expertise to EU Member States to design and implement reforms. It supports institutional, administrative and policy reforms that strengthen public institutions and improve public policies.

EU assistance statement
This project is co-funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, and implemented by UNICEF, in cooperation with the European Commission.