New in legislation on the protection of minors' rights

The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus has approved a new Regulation on the procedure for recognizing children as being in a socially dangerous situation, and has established criteria and indicators of a socially dangerous situation for minors. The Regulation came into force on February 1, 2019.

The complex of actions of state bodies to identify situations where the child's basic vital needs are not met, supervision over their behavior and lifestyle is not ensured, and parents lead an immoral lifestyle, thereby posing a danger to the child's life or health, has been improved.

The main innovation was the adoption of a different procedure for recognizing minors as being in a socially dangerous situation. Previously, the decision to register was made by the prevention council of the educational institution. After the Regulation came into force, this issue is handled by the coordination council under the executive committee, which includes representatives of various organizations in the district, including healthcare, internal affairs bodies, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and public associations, which will allow for a more complete assessment of the family situation.

The criteria and indicators of a socially dangerous situation have also changed. With the adoption of the Regulation, they have become more specific. Thus, registration may occur if parents do not meet the child's basic vital needs, parents do not ensure supervision over the child's behavior and lifestyle, as a result of which the child commits acts containing signs of an administrative offense or crime, parents lead an immoral lifestyle that has a harmful effect on the child, abuse their rights and (or) treat them cruelly, thereby posing a danger to the child's life and (or) health.

Assistant Prosecutor of the District

Lawyer 2nd Class E.L. Kabachevskaya