World Children's Day: We must be safe and protected in every situation!

(Patria) - UNICEF BiH, the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, and the Council for Children of BiH hosted and organized a conference held in the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the occasion of World Children's Day. The conference theme "The Right to a Life Free from Violence" was delegated by children, who presented the situation, key problems, and common forms of violence they face in their communities, homes, and other environments.



“I wish all children happiness, well-being, and a beautiful life in BiH. I want you to first guide your parents, and then us politicians, on what we need to do and how to create guidelines for the well-being of children in our ministries. I want to hear from you today, to tell us your sincere suggestions because you children do not speak with a hidden agenda.“, said Sevlid Hurtić, Minister of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, at the Conference.

After the children's presentations, representatives of the legislative and executive authorities; Zlatko Miletić, delegate in the House of Peoples of the PSBiH, Dragan Mioković, representative of the House of Representatives of the FBiH, Milica Ijačić, President of the Children's Committee of the RS Assembly, Milijana Simić, Chairwoman of the Brčko District Assembly Committee for Human Rights, Joško Mandić, Agency for Gender Equality of BiH, Prof. Dr. Jasna Duraković, Minister of Education of FBiH, Saša Petrović, expert on cybercrime and violence FUP, Gordana Rajić, Ombudsman for Children of Republika Srpska, and Mirsada Poturković, Center for Social Work Sarajevo Canton; through panel discussions, they addressed the problems and discussed key systemic shortcomings and proposed solutions.

Dr. Ingrid Macdonald, UN Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, praised the organizers for bringing together representatives of different levels of government to participate in the discourse on how we can jointly create a safer environment for children.

“As we embark on this journey of introspection and action, let us keep in mind the profound impact our decisions can have on the lives of the children we aim to protect. Together, we can contribute to a future where every child in Bosnia and Herzegovina enjoys the fundamental right to a life free from violence,” said Dr. Macdonald.

Aleksandra Vuković, Deputy Chairwoman of the Council for Children in BiH, reminded everyone of the importance, role, and protection of children's rights and freedoms:

„I would particularly like to draw attention to preventing violence, improving mental health, and preventing negative phenomena, with a call for greater engagement from both parliamentary and executive authorities, professionals, and academia to adopt quality, fair, and practically implementable laws, measures, and activities. The right to a life free from violence is one of the fundamental rights of children.”
Veronika Vashchenko, Acting UNICEF Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized the necessity of data collection in the joint fight against violence.

“Systematic investments in data generation are crucial, as they provide evidence for fulfilling obligations, as well as for developing innovative programs, policies, and laws, and evaluating their effectiveness. Future research should not only document the prevalence of violence but also define its causes and assess the quality of interventions aimed at prevention and response. Data information should be available in accessible formats to increase awareness of the problem and enhance the political will needed to implement effective strategies at all levels of society,” said Vashchenko.

The conference concluded with a call for the establishment of a unique helpline for child victims of violence, which will be part of the system, financially sustainable, and available 24 hours a day, a call for systematic data collection on children and violence, a call for the adoption and implementation of a Law prohibiting physical violence against children in all environments, including monitoring and defining criminal responsibility of adults in cases of child marriage.

Children called on the executive authorities to continuously report to the legislature on all forms of violence against children, planned and implemented activities aimed at preventing violence among and against children, and continuous improvement of the child protection system in cases of violence through better coordination of competent sectors.

Finally, children called for the active involvement of children in decision-making processes, urging all representatives of legislative and executive authorities at all levels in BiH to be initiators, active partners, and supporters in the preparation and realization of sessions on the topic of children's rights, obligations arising from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the creation of conditions for a life free from violence.

“We were given a rare opportunity to talk with those who will vote on laws that affect children's lives. I am sure that parliamentarians will also benefit from such an approach.

We must feel safe in schools. We must be safe at home. We must be safe online. We must be safe and protected in every situation. It is up to parliamentarians and executive representatives to listen to us, consider our opinions, and implement our recommendations through laws and practice,” concluded 13-year-old Sofija Kostić from Banja Luka.