Child protection
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© UNICEF Serbia / Zoran Jovanovic Maccak |
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Juvenile in correction institution in Krusevac |
ISSUE
Despite the encouraging achievements and firm commitment to reforming the social welfare system in the last couple of years, the system continues to reflect the general deterioration of socio-economic conditions. The child protection system is based on out-dated and inappropriate standards and work methodologies. Children’s rights are not mainstreamed in the system, children and families participation in services and community development is not encouraged. Increasing poverty in household and insufficient family support systems have exposed children to domestic violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
- More than 5,000 children in Serbia are deprived of parental care, of which 2,000 live in institutions without adequate support for their psychological, emotional and social development
- Many children in Serbia are victims of abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation. No official data is available, and there is no official reporting mechanism
- More than 143,000 children in Serbia live with disabilities, and the majority do not have access to education, medical facilities and social care
- According to the NGO sector data, there are 17-20 thousand children in conflict with the law in Serbia. FACT SHEET: Juvenile Justice Reform Initiative in Serbia.
ACTION
Our Child Protection Programme aims to build a protective environment for ALL children -from national legislation and policies, to children and families at the local level empowered to prevent and respond to violations of children’s rights.
1. Action on de-institutionalisation
Our main objective is the transformation of existing institutions, the development and strengthening of community based care for children, and the re-integration of institutionalised children into birth/foster families or family like environment. Together with our governmental and non-governmental partners, we are working on:
- Developing policies and strategies on de-institutionalisation, including diversion models from placement in institutions and promoting family and community-based alternatives as the first choice of caring for and protecting children;
- Revising legal, administrative and regulatory frameworks to facilitate the transformation of existing institutions and the development of quality alternative forms of care for children in line with international standards;
- Building the capacity of professionals in contemporary and rights based methods of care and protection;
- Developing mechanisms to ensure participation of children and opportunities for children to redress and claim their rights
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© UNICEF Serbia |
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Poster of "Leave no child out" campaign |
2. Action on protecting children victims of violence, abuse and neglect:
Our main objective is to support the development of mechanisms to identify, support and protect children victims of violence, abuse and neglect. Together with our governmental and non-governmental partners, we are working on:
- A national strategy on the prevention and protection of child abuse and neglect, including development of general guidelines, referral systems, institutional protocols on preventing, detecting, reporting and referring cases of child abuse and neglect;
- Promoting the development of a social safety net, in which all sectors (social, judicial, law enforcement, health, education) coordinate their efforts and actions to identify and adequately respond to violence against children. In particular, establishing multi-disciplinary teams at municipal level to respond to cases of child abuse and neglect and to become catalysts in developing referral systems;Strengthening the outreach capacity of social services through the expansion of a network of child protection mobile teams;
- A participatory research project on violence against children;
- The development of the Republic Plan of Action to combat trafficking;
- Developing mechanisms to ensure participation of children and opportunities for children to redress and claim their rights
3. Action on protecting children living with disabilities
UNICEF is strongly promoting children’s right to develop to their full potential and their right to social re-integration, placing the principle of the child’s best interest at the heart of social protection reform. Together with our governmental and non-governmental partners, we are working on:
- Developing inclusive community-based services for children with disabilities;
- Reforming the role, function and working methodologies of Categorisation Commissions, ensuring the adoption of social approach building on the child’s capabilities and potentials and leaving behind the outdated medical model;
- Promoting and raising awareness of the general public, decision makers, children and families on the rights of children with disabilities;
- Developing mechanisms to ensure participation of children and opportunities for children to redress and claim their rights.
Our main partners in these programmes are the Ministries of Social Labour, Welfare and Employment, Justice, Interior, municipal authorities, local communities, INGOs, NGOs, national and international experts.
IMPACT
Highlights of the programme’s key results to date include:
- Continued expertise is being provided to child protection related policy and legislation reforms, ensuring to the maximum extent possible compliance with international standards.
- Outreach Mobile Teams for child protection are established and functional in 15 Municipalities in Serbia, so far more than 3200 children have been identified, multi-disciplinary professional assistance provided through case conferencing and individual follow-ups ensured for every child.
- A network of 17 NGOs and Government institutions to fight gender based violence through capacity building, advocacy and awareness raising
- The skills of more than 400 juvenile justice professionals strengthened with the most successful contemporary policies and practices in the treatment and care of children at risk and in conflict with the law. Project Summary: "Children's chance for change."
- For the first time in the country diversion schemes models have been established in local communities as an alternative to punitive measures for juvenile
