On 31 October, the Government of Romania and the Embassy of Italy in Romania co-organised a conference in Bucharest on child protection, focussed both on children in families with difficulties, as well as institutionalised children.

The conference was opened by the Romanian Minister for Families, Youth, and Equal Opportunities, H.E. Natalia-Elena Intotero, the Italian Ambassador to Romania, H.E. Alfredo Durante Mangoni, and the UNICEF Representative in Romania, Anna Riatti. In attendance were numerous thematic experts and diplomatic representatives, including the Ambassador of the Order of Malta in Romania, H.E. Roberto Musneci.

During the conference, representatives from Romania and Italy discussed measures taken to assess and mitigate child abandonment through the provision of support to families, and on processes to replicate family-like environments within childcare institutions.

Following the conference Ambassador Musneci stated, “I am grateful to Minister Intotero and Ambassador Mangoni for the invitation to take part in today’s event. The conference was exceedingly interesting, and the topic of child protection is of immense importance to the very the fabric of society.” He added, “Despite the severity of the issue, it was refreshing to see the attention paid in supporting families in difficulty as the main instrument to develop children, and in fostering their personal development and independence.”