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Interview, Radio Free Europe, 20.03.2009http://www.makdenes.org/

Dragi Zmijanac, Director of the First Children's Embassy in the World Megjashi

In Macedonia there are 2000 children who beg in the streets every day. They are the most often victims of violence. I believe that when these children will be included in the educational system this event will be decreased .

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Dragi Zmijanac, Director of the First Children's Embassy in the World Megjashi

20.03.2009

Marija Tumanovska

Mr. Zmijanac  unfortunately lately the events of pedophilia are more common in our country. Is there a real increase of it or there is just more transparent presentation of the same in the media?

As a Children's Embassy we have thought a lot on this issue. What horrifies and disturbs us the most, is the increased number of cases where the children are victims of the closest. We recon that the children, as well as their closest are encouraged to report the violence. If nothing more, we may console ourselves that by raising the level of intolerance toward pedophilia and sexual abuse of the children, and their encouragement  not to remain silent, and the closest not to blame the children for what had happened to them, we have made a step forward on this taboo subject that used to be was a family secret, to get another dimension. In another words, children know they have whom to turn to, and that is our SOS phone line for children and youth 0800 1 2222. They know that the First Children's Embassy in the World is here to represent their interests, to mobilize all state institutions to be more mobile and more functional in prevention and protection, and in case of this unwanted event that leaves deep traumas, I would say even lifetime scar on the children, especially the children under 14, there are institutions that will take the responsibility to protect the children regarding their rehabilitation, remobilization and psychosocial treatment.

Since we have already mentioned the authorities, how satisfied are you from the actions that they undertake in direction of repelling this events? And what you, as an embassy may concretely do to help in this cases?

For already two years we have been intensively working on raising the public awareness, above all of the parents to accept the larger part of the responsibility for  prevention and protection of the children. For this reason, we have conducted a couple of campaigns regarding this aspect, did you talk to your child today, did you hug it, did you tell it how much you love it. It is very important for parents to know where are their children, with whom they are, not to be left alone, and if they notice inappropriate behavior on behalf of their children to talk to them and report the violence if it had happened, or to prevent it, and to explain to their children how to protect themselves. What is worrying us,  is that in a certain cases we have notices disfunction in the system, especially when the children are accommodated in state institutions, as in the Orphanage 11 October, a couple of sleeping quarters...where the children are victims of psychological and sexual violence. In contrast, the Welfare Centers have made a step forward regarding the sanctions. The judges have become more sensitive in aspect that the child victim should be treated especially carefully, that it should give a statement only once in the court, in special rooms, in presence of psychologist, pedagogue and social worker, to be registered and not to be allowed the child victim to be faced with the bully. I have to say that recently there is fast intervention of the police when they detain the rapist pedophile and do not allow change of the statement, as well as that the Ministry of Justice reacted regarding the increase of punishments for pedophiles at minimum of 10 years.

After all this, can we say that lately the rights of the child have been respected in Macedonia?

We will be satisfied when all children will be included in the educational system and we notice that their labor hasn't been abused, which means that they do not beg, take care of cattle, they do not sell alimentary products. When in Macedonia there won't be 200 thousands illiterate, people who haven't finished primary education, and we know that the education is the key answer to poverty. I have to say that every year in April we are part of the campaign for including all the children in the educational system. We have granted written warrants from the Prime Minister Nicola Gruevski and the president Branko Crvenkovski as well as from the major of  Skopje Trifun Kostovski and a group of members of parliament belonging to different political parties as well as from pop stars, that they have promised to strife for all children to be included in the Primary school. When the majors responsible for the primary education will have as a priority how many children have been included in the educational system, instead of how many streets they have enlighten, we would reckon that the priority is put on the children's rights and that in their platforms, they are striving for improvement of children's rights and their observance.

We may still notice children who beg and whose labor has been exploited in the streets. Once the government took action for taking care of these children in the streets. Does your organization have any long term plan for taking care of the children in the streets and protection of their rights?

In Macedonia there are 2000 children who beg in the streets every day. They are the most often victims of child prostitution, trade with children, pedophilia, and child pornography. I believe that when these children will be included in the educational system this event will be decreased. Thus, it is not enough only to remove the children form the street. But, in these families at least one member should be employed, so as the family to have at least some kind of existence, and the child should be included in the educational system and be provided with lunch, free books, because it is great difficulty for the parents and in most cases they do not let the children in school due to existential reasons, in other words, they use the children to earn for them.

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