Turkish delegation visited Medjimurje County to learn about good practices oriented to children and families
EU Child Guarantee and activities in Medjimurje county as an example of successful intersectoral cooperation
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Čakovec, 24 May 2022 – As a part of the study visit, organized by UNICEF Croatia and UNICEF Turkey, Turkish parliamentarians from the Human Right Inquiry Committee, Sub-Committee on the Rights of the Child , chaired by Mr. İbrahim Yurdunuseven, visited Medjimurje County to learn about the pilot-program EU Child Guarantee, funded by the European Union. The pilot-program is implemented by UNICEF Croatia in close cooperation with 11 implementing partners, Medjimurje County, 7 municipalities and Government of the Republic of Croatia.
After visiting the field and learning first-hand from the two UNICEF’s implementing partners – Médecins du Monde and MURID about the importance of intersectoral cooperation for the equal access to early childhood intervention services and meeting the beneficiaries of the programme, PMs met with Matija Posavec, County Prefect and Mayor of Čakovec Ljerka Cividini.
Mr. Posavec explained why Medjimurje County was selected for implementation of this pilot-programme and how specific interventions are working towards breaking the cycle of disadvantage for children and families, especially those living in precarious situations.
He praised the cooperation with UNICEF and partners in all three areas of interventions: child protection and family support services, access to pre-primary education and access to early childhood intervention services, also emphasizing the important role of the County and local communities in carrying out the activities.
"The best things a person can do are good deeds. I thank UNICEF for recognizing Medjimurje as one of the most socially sensitive counties and for their projects that are enabling a happier and better childhood for children”, said Matija Posavec.
The implementation of the EU Child Guarantee in Medjimurje County aims to increase access to basic services for the most disadvantaged children and their families. In order to enable equal opportunities for every child in the long term, the sustainability of activities and their ability to be replicated in other environments are being successfully tested, and a National Action Plan is being drafted to address the challenges of child poverty and social exclusion.
"Phase III: Testing the Child Guarantee" is funded by the European Union and is implemented in seven European Union countries to ensure access to basic services such as health care, education, quality nutrition, quality housing and care services for children growing up in the most difficult circumstances. The Republic of Croatia was given the opportunity to model the EU Child Guarantee in cooperation with the European Commission and UNICEF in order to work on tackling child poverty and social exclusion, so this pilot-programme is aimed primarily at children with disabilities, children living in a precarious family environment and children of national minorities. It is implemented in seven municipalities of Medjimurje County, and through cooperation and knowledge of implementing partners interventions take place in three areas: integrated child protection services and family support, early intervention services and access to quality preschool education.
© UNICEF, 2021 “The information and views set out in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.”
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