Ministry for Human Rights and the Council for Children of BiH ask the MoI of TK to protect the child of murdered Nizama from abuse

(Patria) - The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH and the Council for Children of BiH call on the MoI of TK to take certain measures to protect the child of the murdered N.H. from Gradačac from abuse via Facebook.

Namely, we have learned that an appeal for help for the daughter of the murdered N.H. for treatment in Turkey is being spread via social networks. The page published the full name of the girl, the giro account to which funds are being paid, as well as a photograph of the girl in the arms of her murdered mother.

Given that there is suspicion that this is an abuse of the campaign, as well as a violation of the child's right to privacy protection and the principle of the best interest of the child, we call on the MoI of TK to act urgently, in order to remove these posts from Facebook and take measures to determine individual responsibilities.

We remind that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, including three accompanying protocols, and the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Convention. Within its mandate, and with the participation of academic workers and professionals from the governmental and non-governmental sectors, manuals have been developed, such as the Guidelines for Action in Cases of Violence against Children in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the aim of improving the actions of professionals working with children and for children, directly implementing the best standards for the protection of children's rights. The standard of "best interest of the child" is a fundamental principle for the regulation and protection of children's rights.

Any public publication of photographs of a child in the context of revealing identity, especially when the child is a witness to violence, and when it is in the context of arousing pity among the general public, is a criminal offense and a violation of the child's rights.

In accordance with the above, we ask the MoI of TK to take all necessary actions in order to clarify the case and determine whether there was consent from the guardian for fundraising for treatment in this manner.