Participarea premierului Marcel Ciolacu la ceremonia de semnare a primelor contracte aferente Planului Național de Redresare și Reziliență pentru investiții în crearea unei rețele de centre de zi destinate sprijinirii copiilor expuși riscului de a fi separați de familie

Speech by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu at the signing ceremony of the first NRRP contracts for investments in the creation of a network of daycare centers for children at risk of being separated from their families

Mihai Constantin, Spokesperson for the Romanian Government: Good afternoon and welcome to the Victoria Palace! Today is International Childrens Rights Day, a day marked by the UNICEF Convention adopted on November 20, 1989. It is natural to correctly contextualize this concept of the rights of the child, as these rights must be exercised and protected every day. So, today is just an opportunity to mark the permanent concern that we in the family, in the community, at the governmental and civil society level, must have for those for whom we live from one point further at least, for the children, the youth, for the future. I am honored to be at the Victoria Palace, under the patronage of the Government of Romania and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, at an event organized by the Ministry of Family, Youth, and Equal Opportunities, represented at the highest level by Minister Natalia Intotero. I once again welcome all the other officials, the representatives of civil society, because we all want to come to substantial and concrete support for children at risk of being separated from their families. Prime Minister is honoring us with his presence. I want to invite him to take the floor.
Marcel Ciolacu: Minister Intotero, Minister Deca, mayors, dear children, dear guests, I am glad I am today on a truly special day, the International Day of the Rights of Child, the host of this event, which certainly marks a turning point in the development of the social protection system for children in Romania. I am glad that on their day, we are starting a series of investments funded under the NRRP, aimed at establishing more than 150 centers to prevent children's separation from their families.
As we can see and as we have always stated, the NRRP means first and foremost reforms, vision, way of living, and last but not least, funds. The child's place is with his/her family.
Our role in the office we temporarily hold is to do the utmost so that all children in Romania grow and develop within their families. And this is exactly what we are doing today together: central and local authorities, by signing the first 22 of the 150 financing contracts for the establishment of day centers for children at risk of being separated from their families, but also for the recovery of children with disabilities or the counseling and support for parents and children.
Dear guests, Romania cannot grow if all children born here do not have equal opportunities to develop their potential. And through the investments started today, we ensure that children from vulnerable families, regardless of where they were born, in the countryside or the city, in a more or less economically developed area, have an extra chance to go after school or after kindergarten to a daycare center, where they will receive not only a hot meal but also counseling, and professional guidance from specialists. Moreover, the projects started today continue the investments in education, where, a few months ago, together with the minister, we allocated for the first time in the history of Romania and education, the impressive sum of one billion euros for the endowment of pre-university education units, including for dual education.
Finally, I want to greet the young people who are with us today.
Undoubtedly, you are the future of this country. And for the future to be the way you want it, today you must get involved with us not only in making decisions but also in implementing them. Because you know best what you want. In addition, you always come up with new and especially bold ideas. And you challenge us to innovate.
The same goes for you, Madam Minister Intotero, ladies and gentlemen mayors, I congratulate you for all the efforts you made in recent months and I wish you every success in the implementation of these projects. Thank you very much!

Source: Gov