Save the Children: Parties Should Take Position on Improved Status of Children
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On the eve of the coming Parliamentary Elections in Serbia (scheduled for January 21), Save the Children UK-Serbia invited all political parties to present publicly their plans of action in the area of legislation, policy and practice in the field of education and social welfare, in order to provide the children in Serbia to enjoy their guaranteed rights.
Save the Children states that a great number of children in Serbia, especially those from the vulnerable groups (Roma, rural, refugee and IDP children and children with impaired development) drop out of school early or don’t go to school at all. Because of negative experiences in the schools, outdated curricula and the fact that national legislation doesn’t comply with international standards in education, “the quality of educational achievements upon completion of primary education is worrying, while about 15% of all children never make it into secondary schools”, warns the organization. In its appeal to political parties, it adds that Serbia dedicates the smallest percentage from the Budget for education in the region. "Children of all ages in Serbia are exposed to various forms of violence and abuse. They lack proper and adequate protection from such abuse and, furthermore, there is no relevant information about abuses. Especially vulnerable are the children without parental care and children with impaired development, about two and a half thousand of whom live in social centres, often in sub-par conditions”, says Save the Children. They believe that these children need to be helped through introduction of mandatory instruments of protection, as well as through promotion and implementation of efficient forms of care that would correspond to their needs and would promote development of their abilities. This could prevent the continuation of the vicious circle of poverty and lack of perspectives. "The competent institutions have the legal obligation to initiate instruments for protection and monitoring of children rights, such as the Children Ombudsman, and provide long-term support for such instruments and offices. Children should be included in the decision-making processes from the earliest age. The elimination of unfavourable circumstances that strike the children are often pushed to the side by other priorities, which is unacceptable and can cause lasting negative consequences”, concludes Save the Children. |
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