Enfants abandonnés ou orphelins sociaux ? Évolution de la politique sociale dans la Russie de la perestroïka et post-communiste (1989-2004)

Following the dismantling of the socialist social protection system due to the collapse of the communist regime in Russia, a large number of children found themselves homeless, in the streets without protection or education. The official figures indicate that three to five million children were abandoned but only 700,000 were orphans or children removed from their parents' authority. The rest were children who were neglected by their parents or who risked living in dangerous conditions with neither protection nor education. This article focuses on the measures to prevent child abandonment which were introduced between 1989 and 2004 by the Employment and Social Development Minister which is the main body responsible for chilcare programmes. It firstly examines the measures taken by the government, especially the 1999 law on the prevention of child abandonment and juvenile delinquency (creation of homes and new services). Secondly, it analyses the measures adopted for children guardianship and foster care services for families. Thirdly, it evaluates the introduction of children rights officers in many Russian cities. Finally, it looks at children's attitudes to life in orphanages and their chances of social adjustment as shown by various social surveys. The combination of these measures make it possible to demonstrate both the contradictory aspects of transitional social policy and its social costs that are being paid mainly by the new generation who risk being condemned to permanent social exclusion