Members Of Serbian Parliament Visit Leskovac
Belgrade, 24 March 2010, - Members of the Parliamentary Working Group on Child Rights, headed by the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Working Group on Child Rights, Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, discussed the situation of children and initiatives for their improvement with representatives of Leskovac self-government during a two-day visit to this South Serbian municipality. The visit to Leskovac was undertaken as part of the regular activity of the Working Group on Child Rights in accordance with the MOU signed between UNICEF and the Serbian Parliament and aimed to promote the revised National Plan of Action and support Leskovac municipality to start the process of creating a Local Plan of Action for Children as a strategic document and an integral part of the town’s development plan. During their visit the parliamentarians met with representatives of Jablanica Administrative District, municipality, local department of the Ministry of Education, health institutions, the Centre for Social Work, NGOs, Prokuplje Local Action Plan for Children Team members and of course with children and youth from Leskovac.
National Assembly Speaker and Working Group Chairperson Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic expressed gratitude to the hosts for enabling better insight and exchange of experiences concerning the protection and realisation of children’s rights. “I am sure this will be one of many gatherings since we share the same goal – to do all in our power, within our purview, and more to make sure that children in Serbia grow up to be healthy, to have better quality education and have the opportunity to develop to their full capacity”, stated Djukic-Dejanovic. She pointed out that by the new Rulebook of the Parliament this Working group will be established as a standing body with the aim that children and their rights will become an integral part of the parliament’s purview. UNICEF Deputy Representative Leslie Miller stressed the successful cooperation that UNICEF has had with various municipalities in Serbia for many years now. She pointed out that in the next phase of their programme UNICEF will work together with the Council for Child Rights of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the national parliament, on scaling up the minimum standards for child-friendly municipalities. “Serbia has joined a global movement of countries that are committed to the rights of the child and will continue implementing multi-sectoral programmes that are in children’s best interest,” stated Miller. After active and lively discussion the Head of Jablanica district office expressed the determination of the municipality of Leskovac to create a strategic document for children – Local Plan of Action.
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