This Report on the Emergency of child abandonment comes from the initiative of Amici dei Bambini and analyzes the reality of the social protection systems for children in out-of family care of five European Countries, highlighting the instruments, limits and problematic issues in the protection of children without parental care: a real humanitarian emergency.
This is the second Report after the one issued in 2007. It is published with the financial support of the European Commission within the Community Action programme to Combat Social Exclusion 2000-2006, and is the result of a project called "Social Inclusion for out-of-family children and young people in public childcare".
Starting from an analysis of the present situation, the Report carefully examines public social policies as well as civil society's efforts, their shortcomings as well as their assets, but also cultural myths and practical difficulties hindering tangible and sustainable family-based answers.
A series of recommendations from local experts, social, administrative and political actors completes this comparative study, providing possible solutions to an often understated emergency.

A special thanks for their contributions goes to Roberta Angelilli, Anna Maria Dapporto, Danut Fleaca, Cleofe Maria Cristina Guardigli, Jana Hainsworth, Brigitte Rabault.