The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Strengthening Social Protection of Children and Support for Families with Children." The document, as stated in the explanatory note, was developed with the aim of improving the system of ensuring the rights of children in Ukraine, by improving the mechanisms and decision-making procedures regarding the protection of the child at the place of his actual stay, the development of social services to support families with children who have fallen into difficult life circumstances , suffered as a result of hostilities or armed conflicts.
The law defines the duties of local executive bodies and local self-government bodies regarding the protection of the rights of displaced children, and a new form of placement of children in difficult life circumstances into the family of a foster carer has been introduced.
Provisions are added to the Law "On Protection of Childhood" to define the term "ensuring the best interests of the child" as actions and decisions aimed at meeting the individual needs of the child in accordance with his age, gender, state of health, developmental characteristics, life experience, family, cultural and ethnic affiliation and take into account the opinion of the child, if he has reached such an age and level of development that he can express it.
The law was adopted with amendments discussed during the review. The corresponding draft law is registered under No. 2254.