Improving protection of children from exploitation

In order to more efficiently protect children from all forms of exploitation, it is necessary to identify causes of exploitation, have multi-disciplinary approach, improve legislation, strengthen the role of social welfare centres and work more on education of children, professionals, parents and wider public about different forms of child exploitation. This is general conclusion of the Second regional meeting of parliamentary working groups for human rights and rights of the child with ombudspersons for children from the region of South East Europe, held in Danilovgrad, Montenegro, on 21 – 22 January 2014.

Regional activities on promotion of child rights and protection of children from all forms of exploitation are being presented at the meeting entitled “Rights of the Child: Improving Position of a Child through Protection from All Forms of Exploitation “, organized by the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms of the Parliament of Montenegro, in cooperation with the Delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro to Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Institution of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms (Ombudsman) of Montenegro, with aim to exchange experiences and good practices in this area.

Participants of the meeting had the opportunity to learn about regional reports on child begging, sexual exploitation of children and internet child exploitation conducted within the Save the Children’s project “Prevention of Exploitation of Children in South East Europe”.

“All conducted researches showed shortages in the system of child protection from various forms of exploitation and abuse. Mostly these are the shortages: non-existence of joint data bases, lack of multi-disciplinary approach by relevant institutions working with children victims of exploitation and abuse, lack of prevention programs, lack of services specialised in work with children – victims for their full recovery and integration,” said in his opening remarks Protector of Human Rights and Freedom of Montenegro Sucko Bakovic, adding that all regional counties faces the same or similar issues and that, with joint efforts, good results can be achieved.

The meeting was opened by the Vice president of Montenegrin Parliament Suljo Mustafic, while the opening remarks also gave Head of Delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro to Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Zoran Vukcevic and representatives of Protector of Human Rights and Freedom of Montenegro, EU delegation in Montenegro, UNICEF, OSCE and Save the Children. In total, some forty institutions and organizations participated in the meeting, including representatives of regional parliamentary working groups working in the field of human rights and rights of a child and ombudspersons from regional countries.

“Realisation of child rights is limited with two key points – children’s parents’ and professionals’ level of knowledge about child rights on one side and capacities of the institutions that need to ensure application of child rights on another side.  In that sense, cooperation between Ombudsman institutions and parliamentary working groups for human rights and rights of the child is essential,” stressed Save the Children in North West Balkans Programme Director Ahmed Pjano.