STATEMENT
by
Ambassador Mirjana Mladineo
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia
General Assembly
Sixtieth Session
Third Committee
Item 67: Rights of the Child
United Nations
17 October 2005
Mr. Chairperson,
Croatia has aligned itself with the statement made by the United Kingdom on behalf of the EU, but I would like to add a few points based on Croatia’s specific experience on this item.
In the last few years Croatia has undertaken a broad national reform in the field of children’s rights. In 2003 the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Act and Family Act were amended, resulting in the passage of a new legislation - the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act and the Ombudsperson for Children Act.
In 2003 the institution of the Children’s Ombudsperson was introduced in our legal system as an autonomous, non-partisan and independent body. It coordinates the activities of all entities responsible for the protection of children’s interests, including protection from all forms of violence and sexual abuse. When, for example, the Children’s Ombudsperson learns that a child is exposed to physical or mental violence, sexual abuse or neglect, they will promptly inform the competent social welfare centre at the local level and propose measures for the protection of the rights and interests of the endangered child.
Furthermore, the Croatian Government has recently adopted the National Program on Trafficking in Children, which demonstrates Croatia’s additional progress in this field. The Program has one priority - the best interests of the child, as well as the active participation of children and respect for their opinions.
Mr. Chairman,
The National Strategy for Protection from Domestic Violence (2005-2007) was recently adopted with the aim of addressing all forms of domestic violence, including violence against and among children. The main goals of the Strategy are:
1) to suppress domestic violence,
2) to ease the consequences of violence already committed,
3) to improve education and coordination of actors involved in fighting domestic violence and, finally
4) to contribute the achievement of gender equality.
All relevant actors, from governmental bodies and local authorities to NGOs, are involved in their implementation.
Pursuant to the establishment of the National Strategy, the Protocol on Proceeding in Cases of Domestic Violence was adopted in September this year, with the aim of creating the optimum working conditions and assisting the relevant authorities in the protection and support of victims of domestic violence, and counselling perpetrators.
On the basis of the commitments undertaken at the World Summit for Children in New York in 1990, the Government adopted, in 1998, the National Action Plan for Children, as well as its revision in 2003, with the aim of improving conditions for the most vulnerable groups of children, such as neglected and abused children, children affected by the consequences of war and other at risk groups. Currently, we are in the process of elaborating the draft of the new Priority Activities for the Children''s Welfare Program 2006/08.
Mr. Chairman,
In the summer of 2004, the Republic of Croatia provided written answers to the questions stipulated in the Questionnaire for further UN Study on Violence Against Children, stressing the importance of the question of the suppression of violence against children. The Study provides an in-depth picture of the prevalence, nature and root causes of violence against children and urges the countries to take appropriate action, including effective remedies and preventive and rehabilitative measures, according to the recommendations put forward by the Study.
At the national level, Croatia pays special attention to the suppression of violence against children. In the last few years, Croatia has undertaken concrete steps for the protection of children’s rights, including through the adoption of the following:
1) The Program of Activities for Prevention of Violence among Children and Adolescents,
2) The Protocol on Proceeding in Cases of Violence among Children and Adolescents, and
3) The Action Plan for Drug Abuse Prevention.
Mr. Chairperson,
The Government of the Republic of Croatia also cooperates with UNICEF on the following special programs to protect children from any form of violence:
1) In November of 2004, the two sides signed the Cooperation Agreement on the Implementation of the Activities for Prevention of Violence among Children. Their goal is to provide a safe and stimulating environment for children of primary and secondary schools and rise public awareness concerning the issue of violation against children.
2) UNICEF 2004 campaign - “Safe and Enabling Schools” - which, in cooperation with the Croatian media, managed to raise public awareness and sensitize the Croatian public to the question of violence in schools, particularly the bullying phenomenon.
3) Last year UNICEF in cooperation with the Croatian Government started the educative preventive program “Seven Steps to the Safe School”, covering 121 schools.
In September of 2004 Croatia presented its Second Report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and we are still in the process of implementation of the recommendations. The best interest of the child will be of vital importance in the development of further legislation, programmes and policies in the field of children''s rights. Furthermore, we intend to include those recommendations in the Priority Activities for Children''s Welfare Program 2006/08 which is currently being prepared.
It is important to emphasize that the Croatian Government has already implemented the recommendation concerning the protection of child’s privacy in the criminal proceedings, following the instruction given by the Public Prosecutor to all relevant authorities.
Croatia is also in the process of preparing the First national report concerning the Optional Protocol on the Trafficking in Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography as well as the Optional Protocol on Children in Armed Conflict which will help us to develop a more comprehensive child protection policy in this field.
Mr. Chairperson,
Allow me to conclude by stressing that promoting children’s rights has and will continue to remain high on the agenda since we need to take concrete actions and fulfill the commitments made by our governments if we are to make a real difference to the lives of children.
Thank you.
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