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REPORT ON THE REALIZATION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

  

Macedonian National Coalition of Non-governmental Organizations for Child Rights

 

FOREWORD

            The Report on the Realization of Children’s Rights in Republic of Macedonia gives a general overview of the situation regarding the realization of the right to education by children with special educational needs, as well as the inclusion of Roma children in the overall educational process. The report also elaborates on the situation in the areas of breastfeeding, juvenile justice, respect for children’s rights in the area of child participation, children who use drugs and children victims of sale, trafficking and kidnapping.

            The base that was used for monitoring of the situation of children’s rights in the above stated areas are the Convention on the Rights of the Chile (CRC), the two Optional Protocols to the CRC and the Recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child that were referred to Republic of Macedonia in 2010.

            This report includes the monitoring of the situation of child rights in the period of 2013 and the first half of 2014. The report is drafted by the informal Coalition of non-governmental organizations for child rights which was founded and coordinated by the First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjasi, where besides the Children’s embassy Megjasi, the membership consists of 14 organizations and one coalition of civil organizations.

            The most significant findings about the implementation and respect for child rights in the respective areas are presented in the report in the form of more important results that we came across through findings, general considerations and conclusions. The report ends with recommendations, which are given by the Coalition, in order to ensure realization of child rights through overall implementation of the guiding international document that defines child rights, i.e. the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

            The Coalition extends its gratitude to everyone participating in the data collection both as data providers or participants in data collection. Their participation and exchange of information was more than welcome as it not only assisted the drafting of the report, but also helps to create better world for the children.              

            The drafting of the report was supported by the UNICEF office in Macedonia through the project “Building the capacities of the non-governmental sector for monitoring the rights of children“.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

            The Report on the Realization of Child Rights in Republic of Macedonia results from the process that was conducted to explore and analyze the extent to which child rights are exercised in everyday life. The process of drafting the report was undertaken in the period from February to June 2013, based on the methodology developed by the Coalition of non-governmental organizations for protection of child-rights in cooperation with UNICEF Office Skopje.

            Several activities were undertaken during the drafting of this report, such as:

  • Analysis of relevant documentation and statistics
  • Organization and conduction of interviews
  • Sum up and analysis of data collected by organizations throughout their everyday work
  • Conduction of specific survey and analysis of survey results

 

The structure of the report includes the introduction of the main findings from the conducted survey, description of the methodology that was used to conduct the survey and draft the report as well as most important challenges and recommendations arising from the conducted monitoring.

            The report consists of 9 chapters:

The first chapter deals with the inclusion of Roma children in education.

The second chapter deals with education of children with special educational needs, i.e. their inclusion in the overall educational system in Republic of Macedonia.

The third chapter deals with children’s right to participation, with special focus on the youth participation in the forms of youth organizations and decision-making on school level.

The forth chapter gives an overview on the realization of children’s rights to health; however; one part is focused on the immunization of children and the other part on the information provided to children on HIV/AIDS prevention.

The fifth chapter elaborates the topic of breastfeeding.

The sixth chapter deals with measures of protection for children who use drugs.

The seventh chapter elaborates topics about juvenile justice. 

The eight chapter deals with realization of children’s right to education in correctional institutions.

The ninth chapter deals with the status of children victims of sale, trafficking and kidnapping.

            The most relevant findings obtained throughout the process are presented as main conclusions and recommendations from the Coalition of non-governmental organizations for child rights. The Coalition expresses hope and expectation that the respective conclusions shall serve as starting point for creation of policies and strategies in Republic of Macedonia. It is believed that the created policies and strategies shall be aimed to improve the respect for child rights, promotion of children’s wellbeing and creation of society where children fully participate in the societal developments in their interest.

 

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