IssuesSome 700,000 children and adolescent in this country live the post-conflict socio-economic transition. BIH is an environment characterized by poverty, unemployment among youth, mobile populations, human and drug trafficking, and severe discrimination. Despite early ratification of the Convention on the Right of the Child and expressions of political will to implement the rights stipulated in the Convention, violations of the rights of children in BIH continue to increase. BIH is meeting its immediate obligations towards implementation of the CRC by revising its legislation and development of policies and actions plans relating to well being of children, including the State plan of Action for Children, the Medium Term Development Strategy and policies in specific social sectors. BIH laws, however, are not fully harmonized with the CRC. Despite its response to its immediate obligations, BIH is far from ensuring the progressive implementation of what the laws stipulate.
Principles of non-discrimination, child development, the best interests of the child, and the right to be heard and participate in social life are far from being implemented. Thus, children’s rights to basic social services, such as access to and quality health and education for all children, are frequently violated. The access to social protection mechanisms is minimal and a number of issues relating to poverty, marginalization, family violence and exploitation that have emerged after the war are not adequately tackled in practice. Furthermore, the socio-economic and political structures of the country hinders the State’s capacity to meet its obligation to protect and fulfill the rights of children based on principle of non-discrimination. Statistical inadequacy prevents monitoring of children’s rights, policy implementation and development. In the meantime, there are anecdotal violations of basic health, education and protection rights. The State has made limited efforts to respond to its obligation to promote the rights of children stipulated in Convention’s article 42. Endorsement of the Law on primary education stipulating the aims of education and promotion of human rights, introduction of the subject democracy and human rights in the primary and secondary school curricula represent scarce efforts of the establishment to promote the Convention. The participation of children in learning and teaching processes as well as overall school life is tackled partially through introduction of modern teaching methods and institutionalization of the student councils in schools.
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