In Belgium, children deprived of parental care are still likely to be placed in institutions due to a lack of flexible family support services, inclusive education and family-based alternative care settings. Evidence from the ground shows that children with disabilities are the most discriminated against.There is no deinstitutionalisation (DI) strategy for children living in institutions. Deinstitutionalisation in Belgium is considered as an austerity measure, and stable employment of professionals working within institutions is a priority for the state.
On 22th June 2017, 30 key national and EU level stakeholders from the children’s rights, anti-poverty, and disability rights movements in Belgium got together to work on recommendations to the national authorities for deinstitutionalisation reforms in the context of protecting and ensuring children’s rights. During an all-day working seminar, participants shared good practices from Belgium and other European countries on transition from institutional to community- and family-based care, in particular for children under the age of three, children with disabilities and the correlation between deinstitutionalisation and inclusive education.
Sharing Belgian & European experience on #deinstitutionalisation for children with disabilities & children 0-3 #OpeningDoors4Children pic.twitter.com/3PIriITrlX
— Opening Doors EU (@openingdoors_eu) June 22, 2017
The event was organised by Eurochild , through the ‘Opening Doors for Europe’s Children’ campaign, in cooperation with the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) and European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD). Its aim was to continue discussions started during the roundtable in January 2017 and to initiate development of a national coalition on alternative care for children in Belgium.
#Belgium: three groups explore children w/ disabilities, children under the age of 3, and inclusive education for all. pic.twitter.com/jxqBdzo4kP
— Opening Doors EU (@openingdoors_eu) June 22, 2017
More specifically, experts emphasised that family-based care solutions and community-based services should be primary measures to prevent institutionalisation of children under the age of 3. Residential care, according to participants, should take place only for a short period of time following the UN Guidelines on Alternative Care for Children.
Recommendations for children with disabilities highlighted the importance of awareness raising through training programmes for parents, teachers and children. A concrete action plan on DI in Belgium is also required, experts said.
Thx Frank Sioen @ENIL_EU “need to break bowls we all swim in, so we all swim in the same fishbowl” – call for collaboration @openingdoors_eu
— Jana Hainsworth (@JanaHainsworth) June 22, 2017
Current education reform needs to consider individualised child-centred approach focused on best interests and individual needs of the child. There is also an urgent need for diversity of staff to mirror the expanding diversity in Belgian society, according to experts.
Thx to Annemie presenting for EASPD the way to #inclusiveeducation in Flanders @openingdoors_eu @Eurochild_org @ENIL_EU pic.twitter.com/c7yHVDBoGY
— EASPD (@EASPD_Brussels) June 22, 2017
Recommendations developed during the seminar will be incorporated in the External Mapping Report. It will be launched during the national seminar of European Expert Group on DI in autumn 2017 and submitted to the national authorities and other relevant decision-making bodies.
Great discussions at today’s seminar set a good basis for further work towards DI reforms in #Belgium. Thanks to all the participants! pic.twitter.com/hVcm9pxVSA
— Opening Doors EU (@openingdoors_eu) June 22, 2017