Hague Convention enters into Force

As regards children's rights, in February 2002, Bulgaria became a party to the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and on the involvement of children in armed conflict. In May 2002, Bulgaria ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Inter-country Adoption. It entered into force in September 2002. The State Agency for Child Protection has been functioning for one year. However, enforcement and implementation of the Child Protection Act seems to be difficult, due to the weak authority and capacity of the Agency, the poor capacity of local child protection departments and the lack of effective co-ordination between the Ministries involved. Necessary secondary legislation has not yet been adopted and there remain some contradictions between the Child Protection Act and other relevant laws. As a consequence, the Act has not yet led to improved protection of children, especially those in institutions (e.g. childrens' homes and special schools). The measures on promoting and facilitating a community-based childcare approach and non-institutional care in the Act have not yet been enforced and consequently there is little change in the high number of children in institutions, despite the Act's aim. Living conditions in institutions continue to be inadequate. Some changes have been made to the Family Allowances Act to ensure that child benefits are better targeted towards low-income families. Bulgaria needs to continue and strengthen its efforts in reform of the child care system, ensuring that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is fully respected and that the best interests of the child are reflected and children are placed in institutions only as a last resort.

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