Ombudsperson on children's rights: Rostov Region breaks children's right to housing

Out of 713 complaints that have arrived within the year to the Ombudsperson on children's rights of the Rostov Region, a great share (21 percent) was on adoptive families, registration of trusteeship and adoption. In the opinion of Ombudsperson Alla Vasilieva, frequently these complaints result from drawbacks in the work of trusteeship and guardianship bodies.

"Employees of these bodies are often too formalistic in considering the complaints. For example, a minor girl addressed them, whom her stepfather tried to forejudge from the apartment, although the girl remained alone after her mother died. After our intervention, a money allowance was appointed to her and a trustee, and her rights to housing were defended at court with our help," said Alla Vasilieva.

In another case, a woman of 61 was rejected the right to create a foster family. The bodies of trusteeship have referred to her age, although the woman had already grown up her adopted son and possessed the required material and physical capacities to safely bring up another child. As a result, after consideration, the rights of the child and foster mother were protected.

According to Alla Vasilieva, 19 percent of applications are on violations of children-orphans' rights to have guaranteed housing. "We see that municipalities unreasonably refuse to register such children. Very often we have to defend the rights of the children who are moved out after divorce of their parents. This year, we had 13 decisions of this sort, they are lawful, but, certainly, unfair," said the contact of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Besides, the Ombudsperson receives complaints on problems at receiving social payments (11 percent of all applications), on migratory legislation (7.9 percent) and work of law enforcement bodies.