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The forum was attended in person by over 500 specialists from preventive bodies and childhood sector experts across the Volga Federal District, with over 3,000 participants joining online. The event was held with the support of Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Volga Federal District Igor Komarov, Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Gleb Nikitin, the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, and the Foundation for Supporting Children in Difficult Life Situations.

In his opening remarks, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Volga Federal District Igor Komarov emphasised that over the past three years, the number of children aged three to seventeen placed in social rehabilitation centres for minors at a parent’s request has decreased across the district. However, he noted the persisting trend of a low average rate of children being returned to their birth families or relatives. The Presidential Envoy outlined the need to expand dedicated programmes assisting parents with alcohol dependency, support women in crisis, educate parents on child psychology, train specialists, and establish support services for birth and foster families.

Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova highlighted the recent approval by the Russian Government of a strategy for implementing family and demographic policy and supporting large families until 2036. The document incorporates proposals from the Commissioner’s office, including measures to strengthen family preservation, build a comprehensive family support system, and introduce new approaches to restoring parental rights.

Regarding the ongoing nationwide inspection of the system for the prevention of social orphanhood, the Children’s Rights Commissioner reported that her team had already visited 68 regions, had studied over 5,000 cases, took more than 2,700 under special oversight, and facilitated the return of over 700 children to their birth families. Within the Volga Federal District, 13 of the 14 regions were visited, with analyses conducted of 151 institutions, 53 guardianship authorities, and 76 commissions for juvenile affairs and protection of the rights of minors. Of the 594 cases taken under special oversight, 56 children have already been reunited with their families through mediation of the child rights advocacy institution.

Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Gleb Nikitin stated that over the past year, the region saw a 20 percent reduction in the number of children staying in social rehabilitation centres for minors, a 30 percent decrease in cases of parents having their rights restricted, and an 11 percent decline in parental rights termination.

Key forum discussion topics included interagency coordination among preventive services, effective practices for assisting and keeping families intact, parental rights restoration, and rehabilitating parents with addictions.

The forum featured a panel discussion titled A Path to Change, alongside presentations on comprehensive support for parents with dependencies, infrastructure development for children with disabilities, expansion of Children in the Family services, and parent support clubs. Regional institutions and NGOs also presented their family assistance initiatives.