Kosovo First of June, International Children’s Day: a coalition for child protection is created

Project : MARIO 6 Jun 2010 | protection systems roma

Pristina, Kosovo – In Kosovo 1st of June is celebrated as the International Children’s day. At this occasion, Terre des hommes Delegation in Kosovo organized in collaboration with the municipalities of Pristina, Ferizaj and Peja three activities with the participation of more than 700 children and with the contribution from the Directorates of Culture, Youth and Sports, the Directorates of Education, the Offices of Human Rights, elementary schools, local NGOs, Task Force members and Kosovo Police of tree respective municipalities.

In Pristina, Terre des hommes co-organized an activity with the Directorate of Culture, Youth and Sports on the main square. The entire pedestrian square was full with balloons, clowns, spectacle of music, dancing, recitals and face painting. Many children rushed to Tdh stand as they could make their own masks and Tdh used this opportunity to raise awareness among parents about the fact that children begging handicaps their future.

In Ferizaj (see picture), Terre des hommes organized an activity in partnership with the Municipality and 6 elementary schools as well as the Roma and Ashkali community NGO “Gezimi Yne Rinor” in the main square of the town. On the stage full of balloons, every article of the Convention on the Right of the Child was read by young people between songs, dances, music playing and poems performed by the children. Many children from Roma and Ashkali communities participated and could enjoy some friendly and dancing moments with their peers.

In Peja, together with the Directorate of Culture Youth and Sports, the Directorate of Education and Office of Human Rights, Terre des hommes organized an afternoon event with schools and Terre des hommes in the theater building of the town. 11 schools participated as well as children from Bosnian and Roma communities performing dances, songs, theater and playing music on the main stage.

On the same day in Pristina, Non Governmental Organizations working in the field of child protection have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch the NGO Coalition for Child Protection in frame of Mario Project. Organizations founder of the coalition, which signed the agreement are: Amici Dei Bambini, ASTRA, Children’s Right Center in Kosovo (CRCK), Initiative 6, Centre for the Protection of Victims and Prevention of Trafficking in human beings (PVPT), One to One Children’s Found, One to One Kosovo, Youth Center Akti, Save the Children, Home and Hope for Children, Terre des Hommes and World Vision. The mission of the coalition is the protection of children in need and their best interests. The goal of the coalition will be achieved through advocacy activities, promotion and development of child protection initiatives based on the International Convention for Child Rights, adopted by the General Assembly of the UN on November 20, 1989.

While activities were held in these three cities, Terre des hommes noticed that children who usually beg, were not in the street as they all participated in the activities. Such public events are important to raise awareness about the situation of children in street situation, especially for Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian children who are often stigmatized by the large population. These mixed activities serve to bring together the children from all the communities in Kosovo, without the discrimination.

The activities organized were widely covered by national and local televisions in Kosovo. [AK]