site.btaSocial Policy Minister Pays Working Visit to Portugal in Search for Good Practices against Child Poverty

Bulgarian Labour and Social Policy Minister Ivanka Shalapatova praised Portugal's experience in fighting child poverty at her meeting with this country's Labour, Solidarity and Social Security Minister Ana Mendes Godinho in Lisbon on Thursday. The bilateral meeting took place within the framework of the working visit of a Bulgarian delegation with experts in children policies in Lisbon between October 25 and 27, the Bulgarian Labour and Social Policy Ministry said in a press release.

The purpose of Shalapatova's visit is to get acquainted with Portugal's good practices in the implementation of measures under the European Child Guarantee.

Shalapatova said that Portugal’s example is extremely important for Bulgaria. "Your example is extremely important for us. It is the well-organized teamwork of local institutions that is key to monitoring the situation of the children and families being assisted, as well as to finding specific and individual solutions for each child at risk," she addressed the home side.

Shalapatova stressed the need to develop mechanisms to improve cooperation and coordination between institutions so that they can take an integrated approach to providing health, education and social interventions that make a comprehensive difference for children in poverty, giving them an equal start.

Mendes Godinho said that Portugal will use Bulgaria's experience in implementing the reform for deinstitutionalization of childcare. 

The main topic of discussion was the implementation of measures to reduce child poverty and grant all children access to education, health and quality social services in line with the main objectives of the European Child Guarantee.

"The Child Guarantee is unanimously accepted by Portuguese society and by our state institutions," the Portuguese Social Minister said, emphasizing that the proportion of children in Portugal who are at risk of poverty has fallen from 31% to 22%.

On Wednesday, Minister Shalapatova and her team also held a meeting with the President of Portugal's National Commission for the Promotion of the Rights and Protection of Children and Young People, Rosario Farmhouse. The meeting discussed measures and good practices for the promotion of children's rights.