Greek Minister meets UN Representative to discuss child protection

Domna Michailidou, the Greek Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, met with Dr. Najat Maalla M'jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence against Children, to discuss prevention and protection strategies for children.

The meeting focused on strengthening protection mechanisms, exchanging international best practices, and promoting deinstitutionalization. Michailidou emphasized that child protection begins with prevention, early risk recognition, and family support. She noted that the state must respond quickly and in a child-centered manner when intervention is required.

According to the Minister, the number of children in Child Protection Units has decreased to 965 as of the end of the third quarter of 2026. The discussions also highlighted various monitoring and recording tools, including Anynet, the National Register of Minors, the 1107 helpline of the National Center for Social Solidarity, and the National System for Recording and Monitoring Reports of Abuse of Minors. Efforts toward deinstitutionalization include fostering adoption, emergency adoption, and professional adoption for children with disabilities, as well as semi-autonomous living units for older adolescents and young adults.