Government initiates review of Residential Care Institutions Regulations for Children

A two-day consultative workshop to review the Residential Care Institutions (RCIs) Regulations for Children 2022, aimed at strengthening protection of vulnerable children while promoting their empowerment, kickstarted this morning in presence of the Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie, at the Oceans Creek Beach Hotel in Balaclava.

The event brings together stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations, senior officials of the Ministry and field practitioners to discuss critical areas such as child safety, personalised care, education, health and transition support.

In her address, Minister Navarre-Marie reaffirmed Government’s commitment to making child protection a national priority and ensure that all children placed in institutional care are provided with a safe, stable and supportive environment conducive to their development and well-being. She noted that currently there are 22 RCIs catering for around 370 children aged 0 to 17 years, highlighting the growing need to safeguard their rights.

She indicated that the RCIs Regulations 2022 marked an important step in establishing a legislative framework to professionalise and standardise RCIs for child victims of abuse or neglect while identifying its shortcomings. According to her, the regulatory framework has to be aligned with operational realities and evolving needs to better enhance child safety and improve quality of care.

The Ministry, stated Mrs Navarre-Marie, is also advocating for greater inclusion of children’s perspectives in the reform process, guiding Government policies and legislations. She also stressed the need for strengthened supervision including regular inspections, improved monitoring systems, enhanced record-keeping and the strict enforcement of corrective measures to safeguard children’s rights and ensure their well-being.

08 April 2026

Email: gis@govmu.org

Website: https://gis.govmu.org

Mobile App: GIS News

Topics: Gender