Prevent social orphanhood: Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office demanded to eliminate violations of legislation
The region has recorded an increase in the number of children whose parents have been deprived of parental rights. In some cases, the problem is due to a delayed response to an unfavorable family situation and inadequate interdepartmental interaction, which did not allow the child to remain with their biological family.
Prosecutors noted frequent cases of inadequate reporting of family distress, violations in conducting social investigations, and organizing work to eliminate the causes of family distress.
For example, on March 21, 2022, law enforcement officers in one of the districts of the region responded to a phone call from children reporting a fight between their parents. It was established that conflicts in this large family were not isolated incidents; however, no information was sent for a social investigation regarding the incident. Only upon the order issued by the district prosecutor's office was a social investigation conducted, the results of which recognized the children in the family as being in a socially dangerous situation.
In some districts, rehabilitation measures determined by coordination councils to normalize the family situation were carried out formally, without considering the specific causes of family distress or the results of previous work. Moreover, not all entities ensured proper implementation of decisions, and the councils lacked control over their execution.
In particular, by a decision of the Coordination Council of one of the districts dated December 08, 2022, children in a large family were again recognized as being in a socially dangerous situation due to the fact that the father of the family leads an immoral lifestyle and has repeatedly been brought to administrative responsibility for intentionally causing bodily harm, physical and mental suffering to the mother while intoxicated. The results of the social investigation showed that children in such conditions experience anxiety.
At the same time, specific measures aimed at resolving psychological problems, providing psychological and pedagogical assistance in establishing parent-child relationships, eliminating interpersonal family conflicts, forming and correcting responsibility, and providing psychological assistance to minors were not developed or implemented.
In one of the districts of the region, for a long time, no measures were taken to remove children from families in difficult life situations and in extreme distress.
For example, a minor born in 2009 was repeatedly recognized as being in a socially dangerous situation due to the mother's improper fulfillment of parental duties. The latter practically did not engage in the upbringing and maintenance of her son, who, due to her immoral lifestyle, was forced to live with neighbors. Sanitary and hygienic and safe living conditions for the child were not created in the residential premises at his place of registration. When the commission visited, facts of a minimal food supply and the mother being in a state of alcoholic intoxication were repeatedly recorded.
However, the child was only recognized as needing state protection in October 2022.
In several districts of the region, control over the provision of social services and other assistance to overcome difficult life situations has not been established. Based on the results of social investigations, legal and justified decisions were not always made. Facts of improper consideration of coordination of work in the designated area at meetings of local executive bodies, coordination councils, and education department councils have been established.
Following the inspection, the Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office submitted a representation to the Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, demanding the elimination of the identified shortcomings in the work, as well as the causes and conditions that contributed to violations of the legislation aimed at preventing family distress and social orphanhood.
Information from the Department of the Regional Prosecutor's Office for Supervision of the Enforcement of Legislation on Minors and Youth