Protesting mothers: Social homes resemble concentration camps

Sofia, 10 October 2007 – The Mediapool electronic publication features an article on the demonstration of the Movement of Bulgarian Mothers in front of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy against the appalling condition in which children with disabilities are being looked after in Bulgarian childcare institutions. Below are excerpts from Maria Vassileva’s article “Bulgarian mothers in support of children in institutions”.

The Movement of Bulgarian Mothers was the first to protest against the governmental lack of engagement to the problems of children with disabilities in specialized institutions.

The protest was provoked by the BBC 4 documentary about the situation of children in the Mogilino institution, near Ruse. The film revealed systematic abuse with children with disabilities. The movement was joined by organizations like Full House, Association of Mothers and Mothers-to-Be and others. Bulgaria’s childcare homes look like concentration camps with no control over the directors and the staff, according to the protesters.

The protesters met with deputy minister of labour and social policy Ivanka Hristova. The meeting could not establish with certainty the position of the minister of labour and social policy to the problem. The plans mostly referred to promises in the future with the wording “will take care of”, “will solve”.

In spite of a proposal to close the home down from 2004 on account of inappropriate living conditions, the institutions continues to function to this day. A similar proposal was put forward in late September 2006 by an interministerial commission, but 67 children and young adults continue to live there upon the insistence of the Dve Mogili municipality, where the home is located.

According to Ivanka Hristova, the adoption prospects for most of the children are slim. One of the possibilities was to create modern family centres in Ruse.
The participants in today’s meeting stressed that the problems are not limited to this home only. According to Hristova there is a tendency for decrease of institutionalized children. At the end of 2006 they numbered 8 653. In comparison to 2005, the number of institutionalized children has decreased wuth 1123 children or 11.5%, and almost 16% compared to 2004, according to Hristova.

The larger part of the above children, however, have left the homes because they turned 18 and not because they were deinstitutionalized.

The Mental Disability Advocacy Center announced on Tuesday that it filed a collective complaint to the European Committee of Social Rights. The complaint aims to force the Bulgarian government to take immediate steps under the European Social Charter. MDAC and the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee will seek direct responsibility for the infringement of the rights of the child in Bulgarian institutions.

Source: Mediapool