ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF CHILDREN'S OMBUDSMEN IN SOUTHEAST EUROPE

- The reality is that in Macedonia and in other societies, there are children on the street. Our research shows that they often come from troubled and dysfunctional families. The joint action of all institutions involved, I think that recently made ??significant progress on building a strategy how to prevent such situations to be addressed, said the Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia, Ixhet Memeti, the Annual Conference of the children Ombudsman from Southeastern Europe, held in Ohrid.

Minister of Labour and Social Policy Spiro Ristovski, stressed that it is extremely complex problem that is decades in Macedonia and can not be resolved through several actions by the authorities.  
- You can set the system in which each competent authority country will find its place and will take part in implementing its obligations towards dislocation of street children, reconciliation and integration in the educational system. It is a long process that should not be a policy that any government should continue for the sake of children, the minister said Ristovski.
Bjorn Hagen, Director of the Regional Office for Southeast Europe, the Norwegian "SAVE the Children", co-organizer of the conference Ohrid noted that the economic recession over the past years is one of the biggest reasons for the rising number of children on the street in the region.
- Because we are trying to identify such conditions and, accordingly to intensify our activities in the field. Our role here is through the initiative of forming a regional network of ombudsmen who now has 14 members from 12 countries to act through local NGOs and state institutions and authorities to reduce the number of street children. It is not a problem that government can solve, but an issue that requires more complex approach involving all stakeholders, said Hagen.

According Dear Zmijanac Medasi, children on the street are victims of their parents and the weakness of the system.
- Employees from the Centers for Social raboota are not present on the ground, not out strict supervision on the behavior of parents and not time consuming their parental rights. Daycare centers in children up to 16 hours, and then again on the street. They should be involved in education and their parents receive at least one employment, keeping them under constant monitoring whether quality exercise parental right, says Zmijanac.
Representatives from Obdusmanite for children from 12 countries in the region of Southeast Europe and representatives of state institutions and NGOs whose activities are aimed at protecting children's rights. During the two days conference will focus on several topics of children's rights, primarily on protecting children from economic exploitation and asocijalnata occurrence - street children.

http://www.ohridnews.com/index.php?mod=1&kat=4&id=34244