The Government approved changes to the legislation concerning the protection of children in situations of risk and children separated from parents by which the powers of the guardianship authorities are extended, while the punishments for parents who do not respect children’s rights are made harsher, IPN reports.

Thus, the parents will be held accountable for not fulfilling or for inappropriately fulfilling the obligations to bring up and educate the child. Also, the parents to blame will have to cover the costs associated with the raising and education of the child in social services from the moment of placement up to the reintegration into the family.

The children will be entitled to compensations for suffering bodily injuries and for having the non-patrimonial rights violated as a result of violence, negligence, exploitation or evasion of parental responsibilities.

The Penal Code was supplemented with two articles that envision criminal accountability for parents who intentionally avoid fulfilling their parental obligations.