The Final National MeetUp was held yesterday in Sofia

On the 17^th of May 2022 the team of Law and Internet Foundation (LIF) held the final MeetUp in Bulgaria. The format was shifted a bit in comparison to the previous MeetUps. Meaning that the event was held as a roundtable discussion, focusing on the recent policy changes and expected ones when it comes to child rights and their protection.

The event started with presenting the main results of the E-PROTECT II project along with a critical review of the Methodology for a rights-based individual assessment of the needs of child victims of crime (developed under the 1^st E-PROTECT project) - three years later. The Methodology wider application to various cases including children at risk has been highlighted (children in conflict with the law, unaccompanied minors and others rather than only victims of crime).

The MeetUp continued with a lecturing part, including intervention from a representative from the Bulgarian State Agency for Child Protection – Marga Stoyanova and Nadia Kozhouharova from "Animus Association" Foundation (Centre for rehabilitation, counselling and psychotherapy – Zona ZaKrila). Marga Stoyanova provided an overview of the legal framework and what is in the loop in terms of policy proposals and expected outcomes at national level, while Nadia Kozhouharova emphasised on their continuous work in the field of individual assessment of child victims and the existing obstacles in front of the work of the psychologist in this area.

The regarded topics triggered interested and insightful discussion. The participants have shared positive feedback and the need of further and more specific actions with regard to ensuring child rights and putting them in the centre of these processes.