The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity revealed today that Azores Commissioner's Office for Childhood is under development and should start working soon.
 
"It is with great satisfaction that today we can say that we have fulfilled a commitment with all of you, but also with all Azoreans, namely children and young people," said Andreia Cardoso. The Regional Secretary spoke at the opening of a training course directed to the members of the child and youth protection commissions installed in the archipelago.
 
Andreia Cardoso stressed that the Commission is "a key project in the assertion of regional Autonomy" as well as in the assumption of the Government's responsibilities in promoting the rights of children.
 
"It is a project that recognises the specificities of our Region, so we took the necessary steps to ensure a proximity response," said the government official.
 
In her speech, the Regional Secretary stressed that, in addition to direct support to the commissions installed in the Region in the training and information component, the Azores Commissioner' Office for Childhood is in charge of the development of "a consistent approach to define roles and responsibilities."
 
"The Commission will work towards common goals, which will provide a respectful communication. In turn, this will contribute to an increasingly timely and effective intervention in all cases where children and/ or young people are at risk of abuse or neglect," said Andreia Cardoso.
 
The appointment of Isabel Almeida Rodrigues to the position of President of the Commissioner's Office for Childhood was published today in the Official Journal.
 
Isabel Rodrigues graduated in Law at the University of Lisbon. She holds a Postgraduate degree in Protection of Minors from the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra and in Social Sciences, with specialisation in Family Ageing and Social Policy, from the University of the Azores.
 
She has held the positions of coordinator and trainer of the Azores Training Centre of the National Commission for the Protection of Children and Youth at Risk. In addition, she was also the Regional Government representative at this Commission as well as the Executive Commission of "Old Ghettos, New Centralities," a project developed by the European Financial Instrument.