Press releases
JUVENILE CRIME IN KOSOVO ON THE RISE PRISTINA, 04 2008 – Declaring “Justice for Children,” UNICEF and partners today launch a report about juvenile crime and children in the justice system. A Kosovo-wide campaign is also launched to educate the general public on the rights of children who come into conflict with the law. The report reveals that juvenile crime in Kosovo is significantly higher than in some countries of the western Balkans but is relatively lower than juvenile crime in western European countries. However, according to the police records, the number of juveniles suspected of crimes has doubled from 2005 - 2007. Data from the same source show that from 2005-2006, the number of children suspected of crimes was 2,369, while from 2006-20007 it rose to 4,300. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR RURAL WOMEN UNICEF held a workshop on Wednesday, 13 February 2008 to discuss the challenges that Kosovo's women face due to high levels of illiteracy and lack of employable skills. The event aimed at discussing a recent study conducted by Kosovo Stability Initiative (IKS) and supported by UNICEF on creating job opportunities for rural women. It was aimed at key stakeholders and possible partners and donors. The Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Enver Hoxhaj, attended the workshop in support of gender equality and women's education. SESAME WORKSHOP EXTENDS BEYOND TELEVISION TO REACH CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN KOSOVOIn a continued effort to reach thousands of children in Kosovo, Sesame Workshop and UNICEF, launched a new initiative to extend important messages around diversity and understanding. The organizations developed original Rruga Sesam/Ulica Sezam-themed story books, picture books and facilitator guides published in Albanian and Serbian, for distribution to children across the region. http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/reallives_1204.html JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN KOSOVO KICKS OFF The European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR) and UNICEF jointly launch a 1,2 million Euro project to support the development of the juvenile justice system in Kosovo. Its goal is to establish a juvenile justice system in Kosovo based on children's rights and to promote a juvenile crime prevention programme. The project will help officials ensure that children's rights are respected in the justice system. UNICEF IN KOSOVO LAUNCHES A CAMPAIGN ON VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS On the 28th September the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) and UNICEF in Kosovo launched a study on " Violence against children in schools". Every day, violence invades the lives of millions of children. The MEST and UNICEF carried out research focusing on the prevalence of violence in schools. The research with children, parents and teachers found that violence against children is condoned. Corporal punishment is still an accepted practice in Kosovo's homes and schools. Children say they sometimes deserve it for bad behaviour or academic failure and parents and teachers say it is necessary, to make children behave and learn. Evidently, there is widespread belief that "there is no other way". THE SECOND CYCLE ON BETTER PARENTING COMMENCES IN KOSOVO Pristina 14 March, 2006– UNICEF and its partners launch the second cycle of the Better Parenting Campaign in Kosovo. The goal of the campaign is to equip parents with the necessary skills and knowledge to improve the health, growth and psycho-social development of children, to reduce child mortality rates, and to prevent childhood diseases. This is the second part of the Better Parenting Package, and is a follow-up to last year’s initiative. This package covers parents with children ages 3 to 6. The first part of this initiative, covered parents with infants up to age 3. The two sets of materials now offer scientific and evidence-based practices for parents until their children enter school. Robert Fuderich, UNICEF Head of Office in the UN Administered Province of Kosovo, at Osterode Camp, 10 February 2006. I would like to echo Mr. Ivanovic’s concern and plea for all residents of Zikovac, Cezmin Lug and Kablar to relocate to Osterode. As we are all aware, the children of all three camps have already registered blood lead levels that are unprecedented in history. We have all heard of the dangers of lead contamination and the attention that this is receiving is testament of the severity of this problem and, I must add, the injustice that you have faced over the last six years. A high lead blood level not only leads to many mental and physical problems, it can also cause death.Young children under five years of age and unborn foetuses are the most vulnerable. Although a number of measures are being undertaken at the existing camps as well as a health and hygiene campaign implemented by UNICEF and WHO, no amount of remediation, no additional teaching can save these children. The only solution now is relocation to a safer location. As all of us here can see, UNMIK has done an outstanding job renovating this temporary site. The accommodation is heated; there is electricity and sanitation. There is a community centre, a kindergarten and playground, a women’s centre and a medical facility.One of the most important features is that the ground is paved so that the surface can be hosed down to wash away any lead dust particles from the surrounding area. There is still a lot more to do. Children must undergo chelation therapy to remove this poison from their blood. A proper facility for this process and a convalescence centre are planned. I also want to be very clear: Osterode is a temporary site to accommodate residents of Cezmin Lug, Zitkovac and Kablar while Roma Mahala is rebuilt and other more permanent accommodations can be provided. The best hope for children What we have now is a serious health emergency and we all have to put politics aside and act in the best interests of the child. We finally have a temporary solution to this awful tragedy. I urge the camp leadership, the parents, fathers, mothers to move now, and I urge the surrounding community, politicians and civil servants to support this move and open their hearts to those who have been victimized over the years. I also urge the donor community not to forget…we are on the road to a permanent solution and the first step is to evacuate these camps. Again, in the best interest of your children, relocate. A safer, healthier place has been reconstructed and UNICEF, the international community and your political leaders will be with you. PRISTINA – Thursday, 9 February 2006 - UNMIK, WHO and UNICEF once again urge the Roma, Ashkaeli and Egyptian (RAE) IDPs to vacate the lead polluted camps in northern Mitrovicë/Mitrovica and Zvečan/Zveçan and move their families to the safer environment offered by UNMIK at Osterode Camp. This is an emergency requirement for the health safety of the IDPs and particularly their children. Pristina 8th of December 2005-Recent progress for Kosovo children in the fields of health, education, nutrition and protection will be reviewed with key actors from the Office of the Prime Minister and other branches of PISG, as well as UN agencies and civil society organizations in Pristina this week. Participants will review major results achieved during 2005 in enhancing the situation of children in Kosovo and map out priorities and plans for 2006. Although an annual event, this is the first time the situation of Kosovo children will be measured against broader global progress towards children’s health and education in the context of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as agreed by world leaders at the United Nations in 2000. In planning for 2006, it is anticipated that participants will be able to jointly plan for tangible improvement in the lives of all Kosovo children. UNICEF Publishes a Study on Trafficking in Children in Kosovo
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