Implementation of Principles for Child Guardianship Organization in Lithuania

Abstract

Lithuania, following its international obligations regarding the protection of child rights,in 2003 adopted the Lithuanian State Policy and established legislative basis, which are the keypreconditions to ensure the guardianship of a child in the country. However during the lastdecade the number of children deprived of parental care is not decreasing. The largest part ofchildren receives institutional guardianship. Large number of social risk families and highamount of complaints about the poor work of child rights protection services while organizingthe guardianship for a child can be named as main issues in this field. The article analysescertain child guardianship problems and provides possible solutions in the following areas:estimating a guardianship for a child, organisation of guardianship in child guardianshipinstitution, organizing guardianship in family.