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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Labour Ministry and UNICEF cooperate to reform child protection system

Belgrade, 30 April 2008

Serbian Minister of Labour and Social Policy Rasim Ljajic and UNICEF Director in Serbia Judita Reichenberg signed today a memorandum of understanding, which will contribute to reforms of the child protection system.

Speaking at a press conference, Ljajic said that according to the memorandum efforts will be made to provide a normal family environment to children without parental care who are in institutions.

He said that the memorandum signed today is the result of excellent cooperation between the ministry and UNICEF, especially in the area of children’s rights, and pointed to the fact that placing children in social welfare institutions should be viewed as a necessary evil, because they need to grow up in a normal environment.

Ljajic said that according to the memorandum the ministry and UNICEF will cooperate to promote social inclusion with the long term goal being the development of a comprehensive support system within the community, so that children with special needs and those without parental care can grow up in a family environment instead of institutions.

The aims of the cooperation are defined through deinstitutionalisation and transformation of social welfare establishments and it is planned that some of these institutions will be closed during the next three years, to transform some of them and keep the number of children in the remaining institutes at a minimum, said Ljajic.

The Minister said that the goal is to increase the level of accountability of employees in these institutes and inter-municipal planning of services for vulnerable families and families with children with special needs, and to encourage specialised foster care.

Ljajic recalled that in 2007, the number of children in social welfare institutions was 2,000, including children with special needs, and stressed that it is planned that 16 regional centres will be opened this year for supporting foster care.

Reichenberg said that reforms of the social welfare system are underway in all countries in the region, and added that Serbia can be proud of good results, but there is still a lot more to be done in the area.

She said that a working group will be formed to increase accountability and improve relations with beneficiaries of social services, and the group will monitor the situation in institutions.