On Children’s Day, UNICEF and Office of Good Governance Call for Continued Investment in Kosovo’s Children

1 June 2025, Prishtina – On the eve of Children’s Day, the Office of Good Governance, Mr. Habit Hajredini and Head of UNICEF Kosovo, Ms. Veronika Vashchenko visited a foster care family to witness firsthand the powerful impact a safe and nurturing home can have on children without parental care. The visit highlighted the importance of investing in family-based care for vulnerable children and strengthening child protection services to ensure every child in Kosovo can grow up healthy, safe, and able to reach their full potential. Such progress is only possible with strong leadership and commitment from decision-makers and partners.

To advance the rights of children, under the leadership of the Office of Good Governance, the regular meetings of the Interministerial Committee on the Rights of the Child have created an important platform for children to raise their voices, share their perspectives, and engage directly with decision-makers. Moreover, it is crucial to prioritize child rights and ensure adequate budget allocation, as investing in children is essential for Kosovo’s human capital, sustainable development and social cohesion.

The Office of Good Governance, with the technical support of UNICEF, is developing the Children’s Rights Strategy, building on evidence and the voices of children themselves. To ensure that the Strategy on the Rights of the Child translates into real results, it is critical that the strategy is adequately budgeted and prioritizes the key deprivations faced by children.

UNICEF Kosovo continues to play a vital role in generating data and evidence to inform better policies for children. The ongoing Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) will provide high-quality data on the situation of children and women across Kosovo. Previous studies, such as the Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) and the Study of Children in Street Situations in Kosovo | UNICEF Kosovo Programme ensure that the voices and needs of the most vulnerable children are heard and addressed.

We call on institutions to:

Place children at the top of the agenda through meaningful investment in their well-being.
Institutions must increase overall budgetary allocations for children, especially the most deprived to ensure access to essential social, health, and education services. This is not only a step toward equity, but a strategic investment in reaching the most vulnerable children to build inclusive, resilient, and prosperous societies.

Put children’s voices at the center of decision-making that shapes their future.
Children and young people must not only be heard they must be empowered to actively participate in shaping a future that reflects their hopes, needs, and rights. Policies that affect their lives must prioritize their perspectives and ensure they are true partners in building a better world.

Continue generating evidence and data for children that help shape their lives and living conditions.
These data are crucial for informing evidence-based decision-making, tailoring laws and policies to children's actual needs, and uncovering disparities among different groups. Such insights are essential for targeting support to the most marginalized and ensuring that no child is left behind.

UNICEF and the Office of Good Governance will intensify efforts to ensure that no child is left behind. Every child in Kosovo deserves a fair chance to thrive.