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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Children’s residential homes to be reorganised

Belgrade, 14 October 2008

Serbian Minister of Labour and Social Policy Rasim Ljajic said today that residential homes for children with developmental disabilities or without parental care will be completely reorganised or closed down during the next five years.

Speaking at a press conference where the project “Children Belong in Families – Transforming Children’s Institutions and Developing Sustainable Alternatives” was presented, Ljajic said that such institutions are the least suitable environment for a child.

According to our strategy for social welfare systems, within five years these establishments will either be transformed or closed down, and any institutions which remain will have a small number of residents and a multiple role to play, said the Minister.

In the future these institutions will provide not only residence for children but also day care, shelter and advisory services to children and their parents, said Ljajic.

He said that there are 14 residential homes for children without parental care in Serbia. There are five homes for children with developmental disabilities, but only one is exclusively for children,.the other four also house adults.

The Minister said that 900 children without parental care and 1,200 children with developmental disabilities live in these homes. He stressed that every child has a right to a family and a normal environment and it is very important to have specialised foster care for children with disabilities.

Ljajic recalled that in 2005 Serbia began to reform social welfare and child care systems and it has been observed that during the past years fewer children without parental care were placed in homes, but unfortunately this was not the case with children with disabilities.

In the past two years 200 children left these institutions said the Minister, adding that accommodation in such institutions usually costs €360–400 per month, whereas in foster families it would be much cheaper.

Head of the European Commission delegation to Serbia Josep Lloveras announced that on November 5 the Commission will present its report on Serbia’s progress on the road to EU integration, which will, among other things, deal with the respect for the rights of the child.

Lloveras noted that the project, worth €1.4 million, is financed by the European Commission and realised by UNICEF.

UNICEF Director for Serbia Judith Reichenberg said that one of the key goals of the project is to ensure full respect of the rights of the child, as well as the development of a normative system.

Reichenberg commended the fact that Serbia began economic and social reforms at the same time and achieved great results, but also pointed out the necessity of continuing reform.

She stressed that the goal of the project, which will be implemented over two and a half years, is to ensure maximum efficiency of the child protection system in order to meet the needs of the most endangered groups of children in Serbia.