Regional Legislative Decree establishing Regional Commissioner for Children published in the Official Gazette
The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity announced today that the Regional Legislative Decree establishing the Regional Commissioner for Children has been published in the Official Gazette.
"This is a key project in the assertion of regional Autonomy and the assumption of the Government's responsibilities in promoting the rights of all children in the Region," Andreia Cardoso said, stressing that childhood and youth are one of the main priorities of the Regional Government.
This body has the representation of different Regional Government departments, public and private entities working in the area of childhood and youth, and the civil society. It is charge of planning, coordinating, monitoring and assessing interventions for the promotion of the rights of children and youth in the Region.
The Regional Secretary spoke at the ceremony of laying the first stone the rehabilitation works of the Children and Youth Home of "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Praia da Vitória, an investment included in the Regional Public Works Charter that represents a public support amounting to 600 thousand Euros.
In her speech, Andreia Cardoso highlighted the key role of social institutions in promoting and protecting the rights of children and young people, noting, however, that this "is not an exclusive responsibility of Social Solidarity." Indeed, it is also a responsibility shared by a number of other entities whose action "can be decisive in this area."
The childhood and youth homes are primarily intended to remove children and young people at risk from risk situations and ensure that their care is provided by specialised technical teams in appropriate facilities.
The Azores currently have 35 children and youth homes with response capacity for about 500 children and young people; nine of these structures are located on Terceira Island.
The Children and Youth Home of "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Praia da Vitória, whose remodelling works have now started, will have capacity for 10 users and should be concluded in less than a year.