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NewsBulgarian disabled children abandoned in Institutions[Last updated Tuesday, November 6, 2007] The film 'Bulgaria's abandoned children' has at last made visible to civil society, previously hidden systemic abuse against children with disabilities. BAPID- Inclusion International Bulgarian member- comment on the film and explain their action plan for 2007 The improvement of the quality of care and the situation of children with disabilities living at institutions has always been among BAPID's priorities. The association's activities during all 15 years of its existence were directed towards improvement of living conditions in institutions and establishment of municipality based social services as alternative to institutional care. In 1993 the local branches of BAPID in Pazardjik and Blagoevgrad opened the first two day care centers in Bulgaria and at the moment the DCCs in the country are already 35. BAPID has opened the first protected homes and family advice centers and BAPID's branches manage 6 protected homes as delegated by the state activity. In all these 6 protected homes there are people taken out of institutions. Of course compared to the large number of institutions in Bulgaria it is not enough. In general an effective deinstitutionalization model is missing. We have seen the film "The abandoned children of Bulgaria" from the very beginning of its transmission. BAPID has been making efforts to improve the situation in the home in Mogilino for 2 years. We put four children at a weeklykindergarten in Russe. Thanks to our Ireland partners 6 children attended the Day care Center in Russe. Two of the main characters in the film - Milen and Mihail - were taken out of the institution and settled at BAPID's protected home in Pazardjik in February 2007. Apropos of the received signals via media the Social Assistance Agency set up a team with the purpose to close the home in Mogilino. Partner like UNICEF, BAPID and other NGOs - social services providers were invited to take part in this team. As a result of this an action plan had been elaborated, starting on 01.11.2007, which includes the following activities: BAPID IS USING THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THEIR ACTION PLAN BAPID's policy for 2007 is based on our believe that people with intellectual disabilities as well as members of their families deserve to receive by the state and the society the necessary protection and help in order to be able to exercise their rights completely and adequately. In cooperation with Ministry of Labour and Social Policy BAPID took part in elaboration of action plan for provision of equal opportunities to people with disabilities for the period 2008 - 2015 under article 4, section 1 "c" within the Convention. In conclusion I would like to add that under BAPID;s pressure and several other organizations for disabled people the Bulgarian Government started a procedure of agreement and adoption of the Convention. We call to other countries to make the same so that people with disabilities can live in dignity. |