Visit to the hosting facility
The Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights, Elena Perikleous, visited the hosting facility on Tuesday following the incident involving a child who was found outside the premises and unable to gain entry.
Her visit aimed to ensure the child was safe and to receive information on the procedures followed during the incident. The Commissioner spoke with the child and requested an official investigation from the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare so she could assess the matter substantively.
Concerns over procedural gaps
The Commissioner stated she wanted to ensure that the first steps toward revising the protocol would not be delayed, so that the incident would not be repeated before potential gaps were identified and the framework improved.
Responding to a question on whether she received information about the circumstances, Ms Perikleous confirmed that she was verbally briefed on what led to the crisis and how it was handled. She noted that she identified “grey areas” in the process, which she discussed with the facility, while awaiting the official assessment from the Director of Social Welfare Services before making a full statement.
Awaiting the official evaluation
“The fact that the child was found outside the facility shows that the existing protocol was not sufficient,” she stressed.
The Commissioner added that she is aware of what triggered the incident but will wait for the official report before commenting publicly. She also noted that the child’s assessment had been completed, including a pending section finalised yesterday.
She has contacted the child’s mother, who has been invited to a meeting today. “As an Office, we will ensure that everything necessary is done for the child’s protection,” the Commissioner said.
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