25 June 2019

Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection in Kosovo – KOMF, held the press conference ahead of Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, where calls toward Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo to adopt as soon as possible the Draft Law on Child Protection.

The Draft Law on Child Protection has been initiated for years and has not been approved by the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo.

KOMF declares that the situation of children in Kosovo is severe, therefore we request Kosovo to adopt as soon as possible the Draft Law on Child Protection in order to ensure the protection of children.

The latest data show a 20.7% poverty rate of children. 10.7% of children in Kosovo are involved in work, while 6.8% of them work in hazardous conditions. 61.4% of children in Kosovo reported having experienced physical or psychological violence during the last month of interviewing when research was conducted. Only 10% of children with disabilities have access to quality health, social services and education. Reports from governmental and nongovernmental institutions speak about increasing child involvement in behaviors that are in conflict with the law, including violence, the consequences of which in some cases have been fatal for the children themselves.

Based on the difficult situation of children in Kosovo, KOMF calls toward the Assembly of Republic of Kosovo to prioritize and adopt the Draft Law on Child Protection.

Law on Child Protection aims to protect children from all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect or any other form that endangers the life, safety, health, education and development of the child. The draft law aims to guarantee and ensure the responsibilities of parents, family, guardianship authority, society and the state in protection and development of the child based on the best interest of the child as well as the establishment of the integrated and functional child protection system, for prevention and responding effectively to all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect.

After the conference, Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection – KOMF submitted to all deputies of Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo the document with the request for approval of the Draft Law on Child Protection.