Q:
A:
Law on child ombudsman to be adopted
Belgrade,
7 February 2006
Serbian Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Policy Slobodan Lalovic said today that the ministry has prepared a child ombudsman bill, which should enter parliament at its spring session.
Author:
Fonet
Speaking at a press conference where UNICEF presented the results of its survey on perception and thoughts of children on child abuse, Lalovic pointed out that this law will be one of the means used to help children and prevent child abuse.
Lalovic stressed that by adopting a new criminal and family code, as well as preparing specific protocols and mechanisms for preventing child abuse, the Serbian government demonstrated its firm resolution to protect the rights of children and prevent child abuse.
Lalovic added that if society wants to provide real and complete protection of children, it is crucial to change public awareness of the problem, for without this, not even the best laws could yield positive results.
The Serbian government will try to create mechanisms in society to deal with these issues because violent behaviour toward children is not just a private matter, but a general social problem, said the Minister.
According to Lalovic, even though the general position of every society is intolerance of violence, Serbian citizens still do not actively work on combating this problem, nor are they seriously prepared to deal with it.
UNICEF Area Representative for Serbia-Montenegro Ann-Lis Svensson said that Serbia has done a lot in the implementation of reforms and social care, but the ultimate goal is still far ahead.
She recalled that every government is under obligation to prevent and fight child abuse, adding, however, that in Serbia there are still no appropriate mechanisms that could shed some light on this issue, which is why the Serbian citizens know little about it.
UNICEF consultant and chief researcher on the project Sylvia Koso said that the best way to achieving this aim is to have children participate in the project and hear their opinion in order to establish institutions for their protection. This is why the results of the UNICEF survey are intended for certain state institutions which have jurisdiction over such matters, and for the general public because in that way improved child protection can be achieved.
Lalovic stressed that by adopting a new criminal and family code, as well as preparing specific protocols and mechanisms for preventing child abuse, the Serbian government demonstrated its firm resolution to protect the rights of children and prevent child abuse.
Lalovic added that if society wants to provide real and complete protection of children, it is crucial to change public awareness of the problem, for without this, not even the best laws could yield positive results.
The Serbian government will try to create mechanisms in society to deal with these issues because violent behaviour toward children is not just a private matter, but a general social problem, said the Minister.
According to Lalovic, even though the general position of every society is intolerance of violence, Serbian citizens still do not actively work on combating this problem, nor are they seriously prepared to deal with it.
UNICEF Area Representative for Serbia-Montenegro Ann-Lis Svensson said that Serbia has done a lot in the implementation of reforms and social care, but the ultimate goal is still far ahead.
She recalled that every government is under obligation to prevent and fight child abuse, adding, however, that in Serbia there are still no appropriate mechanisms that could shed some light on this issue, which is why the Serbian citizens know little about it.
UNICEF consultant and chief researcher on the project Sylvia Koso said that the best way to achieving this aim is to have children participate in the project and hear their opinion in order to establish institutions for their protection. This is why the results of the UNICEF survey are intended for certain state institutions which have jurisdiction over such matters, and for the general public because in that way improved child protection can be achieved.
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