The first meeting of the Programme Committee for program implementation support held

The Programme Committee is chaired by Martina Tomić Latinac, Child Protection Specialist at the UNICEF Office in Croatia. The committee includes representatives from the following institutions and organizations: the UNICEF Office in Croatia, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Labor, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, the Ministry of Health, the Croatian Institute for Social Work, the Education and Teacher Training Agency, Brave Phone, MdM – Doctors of the World, the Center for Community Services Zagreb-Dugave, RODA – Parents in Action, the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children, the Office of the Ombudsperson, and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Zagreb.

During the first session of the Programme Committee, members discussed the programme components, objectives, and experiences in its implementation so far, as well as the key challenges and opportunities for Croatia regarding migration, particularly in terms of protecting and integrating children and families in migration, including those from third countries and those displaced from Ukraine.

To support authorities and other stakeholders in Croatia who provide assistance to refugee and migrant children and their families, and to strengthen mechanisms, systems, services, and infrastructure for better addressing the needs and rights of refugee and migrant children, the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and UNICEF in Croatia have developed this programme, funded by the Government of the Swiss Confederation.