Child Safeguarding Policy


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Child Safeguarding Policy_annexes

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021

‘ALO BUSHAVKO’ - SOS HELPLINE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

FIRST CHILDREN'S EMBASSY IN THE WORLD MEGJASHI - REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA


Overview of the operation of the SOS helpline for children and youth in 2021

The year of 2021 was a year in which SOS helpline was ringing quite often. This annual report notes the small number of children who contacted us during this year, therefore it is necessary to work on encouraging children and young people to call in order to be informed or to report violations of their rights.

We continued to work in a pandemic situation by diverting calls and avoiding any interruption in the provision of our services.  

The number one issue in the problems category was the reporting of views of children of divorced parents and non-compliance to the resolution issued by the Center for Social Work. The data shows that the violation of the rights of the child during divorce procedure is one of the biggest problems children and their families face. This points out to the fact that better and more quality regulation of the family relations is needed, including better attention and support by the relevant institutions in order to prevent additional violations of children rights. There are also issues related to awarding of custodianship and payment of alimony. In addition to the right of the child to continue seeing one of the parents, we have also reports about violated children rights for seeing people from the wider family (grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, cousins…).

Violence continues to remain a reality for the children in Macedonia. The data from the report show that many children are at risk of violence, which affects their optimal psycho-physical development. Corporal punishment still dominates as a way of raising children, unaware of the psychological consequences it leaves on the children for life.

Seemingly invisible to other forms of violence, emotional violence also occurs very often and is just as dangerous as any other form of violence. The spectrum of emotional abuse is wide, and this happens when the child is not taken care of, not encouraged to develop, when it is neglected, rejected, ignored, coerced, punished, prevented from connecting with other people around him/ her... Emotional abuse is also a situation when a child witnesses physical or other violence. This annual report also includes sexual abuse of children.

The life prospects of the children in Macedonia are affected by their exposure to poverty.  Many children live with their families barely being able to sustain themselves and with serious endangering of the children rights. When we talk about essential needs we are talking about exposure to inadequate living conditions that hinder the optimal growth and development of children. Poverty also harms children through the negative impact on their families as the parents are not paying enough attention to their children since they are forced to work several jobs, hence the children are often pushed into begging and the likelihood of falling a victim to the most severe forms of abuse is increasing.

Maintaining mental health is equally important for both adults and children. Divorce proceedings and disagreements between the parents of the children are the most common cause of child anxiety and fear. Anxiety in children can also occur as a result of major changes in their lives, such as moving to a new home, living with only one parent, changing schools and so on.

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Alo Bushavko – the new web platform of the Megjashi’s Helpline for Children and Youth
Alo Bushavko, the new communication platform of the SOS telephone for children and youth, aims to offer a new communication channel for children and youth - written communication: chat or via e-mail. Not everyone feels comfortable to start communication, and therefore Alo Bushavko offers different communication support - content on various topics of interest to children, young people and adults. These contents offer explanations of a phenomenon, problem, possible underlying reasons, as well as tips and directions that might be of help.We are still editing the platform, but we will very much appreciate if you take the time, visit it, take a look and give us your remarks, suggestions and opinions. Suggestions coming from children and young people will be especially important to us! Visit us!

Hello Bushavko: Your friend when you have a problem

(alobushavko.mk)



Terms of reference

 

Facilitator for Organisational Capacity Assessment (OCA) Workshop 

 

Duration of Assignment: 8 working days total, over the period of November 2021

 

  1. I.                    OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE

An Organisational Capacity Assessment (OCA) is a process that seeks to assess the capacity of any organisation across a broad range of topics. The overall objective of the consultancy is to; a) Conduct an Organizational Capacity Assessment by facilitating a participatory workshop methodology outlined in the SCS tool for OCA. The workshop aims to identify areas for organizational improvement in order to achieve sustainable results. b) Ensure thorough documentation throughout the workshop and produce a report summarizing the outcomes. c) Assist the FCEW Megjashi with developing a four-year OCD plan to address the identified areas of improvements identified in the workshop.

It should be emphasized in the introduction of participatory workshops that different opinions are encouraged and the facilitator's role is to lead the discussion and ensure that the outcome reflects the reality in the best way. Discussion and scoring on each of the criteria allows the organization to determine gaps and make recommendations for building the required capacity.

 

  1. I.                    KEY DELIVERABLES
  • Maintenance of a neutral and professional approach during the review process and during the overall workshop of the assessment.
  • Facilitation and thorough documentation of the participatory workshop.
  • OCA Tool completed in English
  • Final report submitted which includes findings of the OCA and recommendations for the continued development of organizational capacity submitted within 8 days after the workshop.
  1. II.                 DURATION AND TIMEFRAME

The contract of the assignment should be for 4 working days for the Facilitator and 4 days for Co-facilitator during November, including:

  • Familiarization with OCA tool and initial meetings- half day
  • Facilitation of OCA participatory workshop: 3 days
  • Report writing: half day

 

  1. III.              QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES OF CONSULTANT
  • Advanced degree in economics, development studies, social sciences or related discipline
  • A minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in conducting organizational capacity needs assessments, experience with self-assessment processes will be an advantage; At least 5 years of experience working in organizational development within civil society
  • Excellent analytical, oral and written communication skills in English.
  • Experience in monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
  • Strong facilitation skills and ability to lead a plenary and document simultaneous.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate and work well with diverse people.

 

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Terms of reference


Data Protection Specialist(s) or Organizations to draft all documentation in accordance with the Law on Data Protection, to facilitate and train Megjashi’s team in improving the Data Protection practices and procedures in the everyday work

 

 

III. Objective

To improve the adherence of Megjashi’s work with the provisions of the new Law on Data Protection through assessment and guidance of Megjashi’s staff for in-depth understanding of procedures that will ensure that the data protection measures are met in all activities that Megjashi undertakes. 


VI. Company/Organization/Individual(s)/Expert(s) profile  

The expert(s) – Data Protection Specialist(s)/Organization should have the following essential skills and knowledge:

  • Advanced university degree in law, social sciences or equivalent;
    • Knowledge on data protection area, the Law on Data Protection;
    • A minimum of three (3) years’ experience in data protection;
    • Excellent analytical, facilitation, delivering training, writing, and communication skills;
      • Past Performance: Applicants must prove that they have enough experience in assignments comparable with the work they are bidding for in terms of scope and complexity and proven experience in conducting similar assignments.

 

 VII. Application

Interested Companies/Organizations/Candidates are welcome to apply by sending their application no later than 07.11.2021 at 23:59 hours to info@childrensembassy.org.mk.

 

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2021 Semi-Annual Report on the Operation of the SOS Helpline for Children and Youth

 

+389 (0)70 390 632

+389 (0)2 2465 316

sos@childrensembassy.org.mk

https://www.facebook.com/megjashi/ 

 http://www.childrensembassy.org.mk/

The operation of the SOS helpline is firmly grounded in the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which emphasize children's rights to privacy and protection against injury. The purpose of the SOS helpline for children and youth is to provide support to children in need, to provide a forum for sharing information and support, advocacy and lobbying support, promoting the rights of the child and promoting the SOS line as a medium for supporting children.

Megjashi is a member of the global network of SOS lines, Child Helpline International (CHI), and uses the methodology of network records in its work. Megjashi participates in the annual surveys conducted by CHI among its members, on the basis of which it then prepares a report that can serve as an argumentative tool for advocating for children's rights before governments, as well as for improving the operation of the helplines, members of the network.

 

summary of REPORTS

  

During the first half of 2021, a total of 151 cases (reports) were resolved on the SOS helpline for children and youth. With these cases, additional contacts have been made in order to be in constant communication and to keep up with the events in solving the problem.

A total of 223 children and young people were covered by the reports, 99 of which were boys, 100 girls, and the gender of 24 children is unknown. Compared to the first half of 2019 (50 reports) and 2020 (115), the number of reports has increased three times compared to 2019, i.e. by one third compared to 2020.

 

Number of reports/cases

Number of children included in the reports/ cases

Number of feedbacks made with the reports

151

223

226

 

This year the administrative (fixed) number of the Children's Embassy Megjashi was the most frequently used communication channel as well, 133 reports were received, to be more precise.

                Most of the children or 197 live in urban areas, and 20 children live in rural areas, for 6 it is unknown. The number of callers from rural areas, as in previous years, remains very low compared to the number of callers from urban areas. Possible reasons for this may be the lack of information of people living in rural areas about the rights of children, the manner and procedure for their protection, as well as insufficient promotion of the SOS helpline in these areas. Among the reasons is, surely, the fact that most of the population lives in an urban environment.

 

                For 223 children there is a possible violation of one or more children's rights. The most common violations refer to the category of family relations (violation of the child's right to see one parent during divorce proceedings and non-compliance with the decisions of the centres for social work), followed by reports of violations of the child's rights in violence (peer violence (bullying), physical violence, mental/emotional violence, neglect, sexual violence). In third place in frequency is the violation of the right of access to institutions, social, health care and other services, followed by problems related to mental health, school and physical health. In most of the reports, the reported problem is complex and can be registered in several categories, so the number of children affected by the problem category is greater than the number of children covered by the reports because one child is counted in more than one category in which the problem is registered.

 

The first most common violations of the rights of the child according to the category of the problem to which the report refers

 

 

 



ANNUAL REPORT ON

THE WORK OF THE MEGJASHI’S SOS HELPLINE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

 2020

 

02 2465 316, 070 390 632

sos@childrensembassy.org.mkinfo@childrensembassy.org.mk,

fb – first children`s embassy in the world

https://www.facebook.com/megjashi/

http://www.childrensembassy.org.mk/

 

 

Prepared by        Violeta Ilioska, SOS Helpline Psychologist and

Jordanka Cherepnalkova -Trajkoska, SOS Helpline Coordinator

 

This report has been financed by the Government of Sweden. Responsibility for the content lies entirely with Megjashi. The Government of Sweden does not necessarily share the expressed views and interpretations

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT         

 

The First Children's Embassy in the World Megjashi - Republic of Macedonia and the team of the SOS helpline for children and youth, would like to express their sincere gratitude to everyone showing trust in us during this specific year for all humankind, by addressing us regarding problems affecting the children and youth. We are grateful that we are recognized as a place where everyone can be heard, understood and advised and thus enabling us to fulfil our mission as an organization, which is to create a better world for every child.

Special thankfulness is to be given to our past and present volunteers who selflessly dedicate their abilities, knowledge and time in the work of the SOS helpline.

Our appreciation is also directed to our collaborators that we addressed during the support of our callers for a more suitable advice, support or solution. Without intending to overlook anyone, we give our thanks to the Coalition for Fair Trials, the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association, the Hope Crisis Centre, Mother Teresa’s Order of the Missionaries of Charity, the Public Institution - Inter-municipal centre for social work (JUMCSR) Skopje and especially to the intervention team, the Sector for Internal Affairs Skopje, the Sector for Internal Affairs Ohrid, and the Ombudsman.

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Alternative report of non-governmental organizations on the state of children's rights in Macedonia

Macedonian National Coalition for the Rights of the Child

Skopje, October 2020

 

FOREWORD

At the very beginning, as a reminder, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was adopted by the UN General Assembly on November 20, 1989, entered into force on September 2, 1990, and was ratified by Macedonia in 1993. In front of you is the Alternative report of nongovernmental organizations on the implementation of the CRC in Macedonia in the period from 2010 to the first half of 2020. The report was prepared by the informal coalition of NGOs - Macedonian National Coalition for the Rights of the Child, joined by few other orgnisations that are not yet members of the Coallition. The Coalition was established and coordinated by the First Children's Embassy in the World Megjashi.

In 2010, after reviewing the second periodic report, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child published the Concluding Observations for the State, in which it indicated everything that needs to be done to promote the rights of children in Macedonia. After receiving the concluding remarks, the Children's Embassy Megjashi together with some of the member organizations of the Coalition monitored the level of implementation of the recommendations of the Committee and during 2020 conducted an online survey with over 30 organizations and generated data that helped obtain an objective picture with regard to the situation with the rights of the child in Macedonia.

What we consider especially important is that children and young people were actively involved in the preparation and implementation of the online research for children, as well as in the preparation of a separate Children's Alternative Report on the state of children's rights.

It is important to note that this Alternative Report is a result of the multi-year efforts of the Coalition member organizations in monitoring the implementation of the CRC. In addition to the reports prepared in previous years, this report includes additional data, key information from NGOs in areas for which the state report does not provide enough information, in areas which are not covered, or areas which, in opinion of the NGOs, are covered, but are not entirely accurate, as well as suggestions and reccommomendations. The report provides an overview of the state of play with the implementation of the Committee’s recommendations 10 years after their adoption.

Gordana Pirkovska Zmijanac

First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjashi

Skopje, October 2020

 

LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE REPORT

This report represents an overall consensus of opinion of the NGOs and informal groups that contributed to this report. It does not necessarily represent in all respects or detail the views of every organization/group. Thanks to the following organizations/groups for sharing their experiences to inform about the preparation of this report:

Association “Emotionally Healthy Childhood”

Association for Democratic Initiatives - ADI

Association for Psychological, Special Education and Speech Therapy Services "Center Savant"

Association for the Rights of Children and Youth with Special Needs “Lastovica”

Association „MIR“ Skopje

Association of Citizens for Promotion and Protection of Spiritual and Cultural Values LEGIS Skopje

Association of Citizens for Supporting of Marginalized Groups "Roma Resource Center" Skopje

Association of Parents of Children with Rare Neurological Diseases (Rett Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, etc.) KOKICINJA Skopje

Center for Intercultural Dialogue

Centre for Human Rights AMOS Bitola

Citizens' Association RUBIKON - Skopje

Citizens’ Association UNITED WE STAND TALL Skopje

City Red Cross of Skopje

Civic Initiative for Joint Custody

Clean Air Movement

Click Action

Coalition All for Fair Trials

Coalition MARGINS

Coalition of Youth Organizations SEGA*

Defense for Children’s Rights (DCR)

Family and Childcare Center - KMOP Skopje

Foundation for Education and Cultural Initiatives "Step by Step"-Macedonia

HERA – Health Education and Research Association

IMPETUS - Center for Internet, Development and Good Governance

Macedonian Young Lawyers Association

Mother and Child Movement

National Alliance for Rare Diseases in R.Macedonia - NARDM

NGO United by Heart Stip

Open Gate-La Strada Macedonia

Peace Action

Polio Plus – Movement Against Disability

Resource Centre for Parents of Special Needs Children

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ALTERNATIVE REPORT ON THE STATE OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN MACEDONIA – FROM CHILDREN’S PERSPECTIVE

First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjashi – Republic of Macedonia

FOREWORD The report was written by a team of children, aged 12 to 17, who accepted the First Children's Embassy in the World Megjashi's invitation to participate in this process. These pupils and their schools are part of Children's Embassy Megjashi's activities within the Let's Take the Rights in our Hands Project, Empowering Child’s Strengths for Violence Prevention Project and the Peace Education Programme, through which they have previously obtained key knowledge on children's rights. The preparation of this report was organized into two phases: research phase and report writing phase. During the research phase (May-July 2020), a nationwide survey on the state of the child rights was designed and conducted, providing data on various aspects of children’s lives in the country, the problems they face and the things they think should be improved.1 The survey was disseminated online in both Macedonian and Albanian language, and it was completed by 1077 children aged 12 to 17. Total of thirty pupils from 11 primary and secondary schools in Veles,2 Vinica,3 Gostivar,4 Debar5 and Skopje6 participated in the design, piloting and dissemination of the survey. Out of this group of pupils, thirteen decided to participate in the second phase, i.e. the preparation of the report. Within the second phase (July-October 2020), a number of online meetings and workshops were held, enabling the children to further develop their knowledge on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and learn about the reporting process before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

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28 YEARS OF EXISTENCE AND WORK OF THE FIRST CHILDREN’S EMBASSY IN THE WORLD MEGJASHI - 28 YEARS OF MORE RIGHTEOUS WORLD FOR THE CHILDREN


The First Children's Embassy in the World MEGJASHI is the oldest civic organization in the Republic of Macedonia to protect the rights of the child, established on 29 April, 1992 by Gordana Pirkovska Zmijanac and Dragi Zmijanac. Megjashi advocates and protects children's rights, stands for responsible parenthood and respect for the child's personality. Megjashi continuously works on the strengthening of the civil movement for children’s rights and functionality of the institutions in the best interests of the child. Embassy promotes peace activism and volunteerism, developing active citizenship based on the principle of nonviolence.

With its activities Megjashi has contributed to the development and strengthening of the civic awareness for the children's rights. It has broken the silence of children's suffering, especially physical, sexual and economic abuse of the children, revealing many cases of abuse to the public and directly engaging in establishing effective mechanisms to protect the children.

As a result of the extremely dedicated and hard work during its 28 years of existence, Megjashi has grown into a worldwide known and recognized organization for children’s protection and children's rights in general.

In the previous period (1992-2020) the Embassy pursues its activity acting in the following areas: psycho-social, legal and other kinds of assistance to children who need help with a particular emphasis on the marginalized groups of children; monitoring of the children's rights and promotion of the rights of the child in the Republic of Macedonia and abroad; taking initiatives to promote the legislation to protect children in the Republic of Macedonia and its implementation, as well as activities for peace building and nonviolent conflict resolution. These domains remain of primary interest in the following period.



POSITIVE DISCIPLINE AND POSITIVE PARENTING/GUARDIANSHIP   

Every Home is a University and the Parents are Teachers - Mahatma Gandhi 

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The children are not safe, neither in their schools, nor after they leave the school yard

Interview with Dragi Zmijanac - Director & Founder of the First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjashi

Newspaper VEST, Saturday’s issue - May 7, 2016

The children are not safe, neither in their schools, nor after they leave the school yard.

A four year old child forgotten and locked in a kindergarten, parents protesting against the violent behavior of a student - are the two cases which brought up the subject of children’s safety in their schools and outside. How to protect themselves from the aggressive behavior of their schoolmates; does the system provide programs and solutions for this problem - explains Dragi Zmijnac, the President/ CEO of the First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjashi.





THE FIRST CHILDREN’S EMBASSY IN THE WORLD TO BE THE NUMBER ONE  TRUSTED AMONG CITIZENS IN MACEDONIA

According to the citizens, the first place, with most voices with positive opinion, belongs to the First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjashi, the same as the previous researches made in the years of 2007, 2008 and 2010.

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The First Children's Embassy in the World Megjashi Quality Management System which fulfills the requirements of the following standard

ISO 9001:2008

         

Presentation of the Report for the situation of the children’s rights in Republic of Macedonia, prepared by Macedonian National Coalition of Nongovernmental Organizations for children’s rights.
The Macedonian National Coalition of Nongovernmental Organizations for children’s rights (informal coalition), coordinated by the First Children’s Embassy in the world Megjashi, on Thursday, 07 June 2012, at 10:30, at the offices of the First Children’s Embassy (str. Kosta Novakovik 22a, Skopje) organized a press conference for Presentation of the Report for the situation of the children’s rights in Republic of Macedonia for the period from June 2010 to December 2011, prepared by a group of Nongovernmental Organizations.

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Report for the situation of the children’s rights in Republic of Macedonia, prepared by Macedonian National Coalition of Nongovernmental Organizations for children’s rights.

The report for the situation of the children’s rights in Republic of Macedonia, is prepared by the Macedonian National Coalition of Nongovernmental Organizations for children’s rights (informal coalition), consisted of 14 Civil Society organizations. This coalition is formed on 13.11.1997 and is coordinated by The First Children’s Embassy in the world Megjashi.

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CHILDREN’S EMBASSY MEGJASHI – 20 years growing with the children
The children recognized us and entrust us with the need to protect and defend them. We spoke publicly for many problems they are facing and increased the public awareness about the importance and the necessity of respecting the rights of the child



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There are no longer taboos and silence about the plight of children
Under the motto "20 years for children," the First Children's Embassy in the World “Megjashi”, celebrates the 20th anniversary this year. Established in 1992, the Embassy was initially formed as a group of citizens in order to help the refugee children affected by the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the challenges did not stop there ...


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The high penalties can not stop the pedophiles
Skopje, May 9th – These days the registry for pedophiles should become operational and will display the convicted pedophiles from Macedonia on the Internet. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs prepared a list of seventy pedophiles that the citizens can view online, through the website: www.stop-pedofilija.org.mk. It will also include photos, names and surnames of the convicted pedophiles. On the site can be found lessons, advices and guidance for victims and their parents.



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Interview with Dragi Zmijanac, the first person of the First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjashi

Newspaper VECER 22 MAY 2012 No. 14996 Journalist Stefan Rashkovski and Ognen Cacarevic
Life imprisonment and chemical castration for the paedophiles!

Dragi Zmijanac is the head of the First Children’s Embassy Megjashi for several years and has taken the burden of fighting for the rights and protection of children in Macedonia. With his team and the modest resources and legal tools available they managed to change the public awareness in the country and to convince and educate the children that they have their rights and that there is always someone to protect them.

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