Save the Children Urges Elected Officials to Active Protection of Children Rights

NGO.ba

10 October 2006

On the occasion of the Week of the Child and the recently completed General Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Save the Children UK�s B&H Office called on the newly elected officials and institutions to emphasize the need to solve issues related to improvement and protection of children rights in their respective working programmes.

According the recent public statement issued by Save the Children, the attention dedicated to issues that influence the lives of children in the country was not systematic and insufficient, so they believe it necessary for the new office holders to urgently design comprehensive approaches to key problems faced by children.

The transition processes in all areas of society, negative economic trends and rising poverty, directly and indirectly impact the life of children. The most poverty stricken categories of population include the families with three of more children (66% of this segment of population live in poverty), as well as households with two children, one third of which (32%) live in poverty.

The health, education and social welfare system went through significant changes, both in terms of services they provide and in the manner and scope of financing. Approximately 26% of the population, mostly marginalized children, persons with special needs and elderly people, are not covered by the healthcare system at all. At least 6$ of children don�t realize their right to primary education, while 27% of the young people between 15 and 18 years of age are not included in the system of secondary education.

Several groups of children are especially vulnerable, including some 3,000 children without parental care, who need special attention and support; Roma children, 85% of whom don�t go to elementary schools, according to some estimates; children with special needs; child returnees to areas in which they are ethnic minority; and, children from rural areas.

Therefore, Save the Chlidren UK invites all political parties to provide their concrete and constructive proposals for more efficient and quality financing and organization of education, health and social care for children. Also, it is of extreme importance to pay attention to the problem of social exclusion of marginalized children, their inclusion in society and establishment of instruments to protect the children from abuse and neglect.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, under the auspices of the process of stabilization and association into the European Union is obligated, among other things, to urgently establish modern non-segregation education system and to reform its social welfare and healthcare sectors. The adequate care for the children is, therefore, one of the main requirements that the country has to meet to become a full member of the European Union.

Through initiation of public debates on this issues, improvements in the budgetary support for all services that work with children, implementation of laws and programmes that promote children rights, representatives of political parties and institutions could contribute directly for improved standards of living for all children in B&H, thus take the country on the road towards European integrations, combined with other reforms. The period immediately after the elections is the best time to transform campaign promises in concrete action to improve the quality of life for all children in Bosnia and Herzegovina.