On Monday, 5 November 2018, the Fifth Meeting of Children’s Rights Council of the Republic of Serbia was held.   The meeting was attended by Jasmina Miković, Praxis Deputy Executive Director and MODS Management Board President, who is also a member of the Children’s Rights Council, and Saša Stefanović, MODS Director.  

Saša Stefanović, MODS Director, presented the Recommendations for the development and improvement of measures, services and programmes for preventing the separation of children from families or returning of children to the primary family if the separation occurred. These recommendations derived from the conclusions of the national conference "Strengthening the Family - A Look at Opportunities", and the basic message is that existing resources in different sectors should be used to strengthen the family and support the child’s staying in the family.

At the meeting, the Preliminary Draft Law on Child’s Rights and Child Ombudsman was discussed. It was pointed out that this Law contained the provisions confirming all rights of the child and instruments of independent control and protection. Adoption of this Law represents a major step in the improvement, promotion and provision of control over the protection of child’s rights in the Republic of Serbia. Also, by adopting this Law, the Republic of Serbia fulfils its obligations contained in the recommendations from the latest Universal Periodic Review of the state of human rights in Serbia as well as in the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Action Plan for Chapter 23. A representative of the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs presented also a plan for further work on the adoption of this Law, expected in the first quarter of 2019.

The Council members were informed about the guidelines and practices of UNICEF-supported Child Friendly Cities Initiatives around the world and the continuation of the project "Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour".

The Universal Children's Day will be celebrated in Serbia on November 20th, under the slogan "Let's Paint It All Blue, for Every Child", and on that day all the most important institutions in Serbia will be lighted in blue as a mark of respect for the rights of children and adolescents, as stated at the meeting of the Children's Rights Council.