Q:
A:
Better position of children through speedier reforms
Belgrade,
6 October 2008
Serbian Minister of Labour and Social Policy Rasim Ljajic announced today that the government will adopt three new laws aimed at improving the position of children and stressed that Serbia must harmonise its legal procedure with international standards in this area.
Author:
Tanjug
Speaking at a press conference on children’s week, taking place from October 6–12, Ljajic said that the Ministry has already prepared a bill on children’s ombudsman and a comprehensive anti-discrimination bill which the government is to adopt in October.
He announced that in the course of 2009, a new bill on social care will also be passed and noted that around 155,000 children in Serbia are heavily stricken by poverty, whereas as many live just above the poverty line.
According to registers of social care centres, around 161,000 children are beneficiaries of various social services, said Ljajic adding that children from families of refugees and the Roma are in the gravest position.
He noted that up to 60% of Roma children live in unsanitary slums, another 20% are growth impaired and another 46% do not have a meal per day.
According to him, another huge problem are frequent outbursts of violence against children and specified that in 2007 a total of 1,640 cases of various types of violence were recorded, such as emotional and physical abuse and child neglect.
UNICEF Country Director in Serbia Judita Reichenberg stressed that Serbia has to speed up reforms in order to improve the position of children and determine an adequate budget in this respect.
Discrimination has to become unacceptable. There is not a single excuse for children to be exposed to discrimination, whether they belong to national minorites, have special needs or live in poor remote areas, said Reichenberg.
President of the Youth Peer Serbia organisation Ljubivoje Rsumovic stressed that children are of strategic importance for every country and therefore deserve special care.
According to him, almost 400,000 children below 18 live in Serbia, making up 20% of the entire population.
This year’s children’s week, themed „Grown-ups why did you stop? Let’s grow up together“, will be marked by a series of events, organised by the Youth Peer Serbia and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.
He announced that in the course of 2009, a new bill on social care will also be passed and noted that around 155,000 children in Serbia are heavily stricken by poverty, whereas as many live just above the poverty line.
According to registers of social care centres, around 161,000 children are beneficiaries of various social services, said Ljajic adding that children from families of refugees and the Roma are in the gravest position.
He noted that up to 60% of Roma children live in unsanitary slums, another 20% are growth impaired and another 46% do not have a meal per day.
According to him, another huge problem are frequent outbursts of violence against children and specified that in 2007 a total of 1,640 cases of various types of violence were recorded, such as emotional and physical abuse and child neglect.
UNICEF Country Director in Serbia Judita Reichenberg stressed that Serbia has to speed up reforms in order to improve the position of children and determine an adequate budget in this respect.
Discrimination has to become unacceptable. There is not a single excuse for children to be exposed to discrimination, whether they belong to national minorites, have special needs or live in poor remote areas, said Reichenberg.
President of the Youth Peer Serbia organisation Ljubivoje Rsumovic stressed that children are of strategic importance for every country and therefore deserve special care.
According to him, almost 400,000 children below 18 live in Serbia, making up 20% of the entire population.
This year’s children’s week, themed „Grown-ups why did you stop? Let’s grow up together“, will be marked by a series of events, organised by the Youth Peer Serbia and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.
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