Romania unveils law to enhance child welfare

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis signed into law a new bill on Monday, declaring 2025 as the "National Year of the Child," a national initiative aiming to enhance the social, educational, and cultural well-being of children across Romania, reported Xinhua.

Under the new legislation, various government entities, including the parliament, the Presidential Administration, and local authorities, are empowered to organize and fund events that promote child development, with a focus on infrastructure investments and projects benefiting children directly.

The law mandates that all publicly funded, non-profit initiatives must include a component dedicated to child welfare, emphasizing support for children from vulnerable backgrounds.

Projects under this initiative must demonstrate their contribution to improving children's well-being and ensuring equitable access to cultural, sports, and recreational activities.

This move aligns with Romania's National Action Plan for the Implementation of the Child Guarantee, launched in 2023. The plan seeks to lift at least 500,000 children out of poverty or social exclusion by 2030.

Currently, according to UNICEF, 41.5 percent of Romanian children are at risk, a rate that is double the EU average. Romania has committed over 19 billion euros from European, state, local, and non-reimbursable sources to a set of 59 measures targeting child welfare.