Mapping support services/structures for child victims of violence in Romania

Highlights

Every child affected by violence needs a timely, coordinated response tailored to their circumstances, regardless of where they live. To help improve this response, the National Authority for the Protection of Child Rights and Adoption, with support from UNICEF Romania, initiated a study to map services and support structures for child victims of violence and assess professionals’ capacity to identify and respond to violence. 

The study combined a review of documents and administrative data with two surveys: one covering 412 institutions and organizations across Romania’s counties and Bucharest’s sectors, including 45 of the 47 DGASPC, and another involving 551 professionals working directly with child victims of violence. The research also included 30 interviews with representatives of central government institutions, five focus groups with professionals from social assistance, education, health, low enforcement and justice, and one focus group with parents of child victims. 

The findings and recommendations provide guidance for improving public policy, planning services and prioritizing investments, so that every child receive timely protection and support for as long as needed. 

The study was conducted within the project "Strengthening the response to violence against children through better informed policies and enhanced institutional capacity", funded by the European Union through the Technical Support Instrument, at the request of the National Authority for the Protection of Child Rights and Adoption within the Ministry of Labor, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity of Romania and the Ministry of Justice of Poland and implemented with technical assistance provided by UNICEF Romania and UNICEF Poland.