Strengthening of the role of civil society organizations in the monitoring of the state Strategy for combating violence against

With an aim of contributing to strengthening of the civil society organizations’ role in promotion of human rights and democratic reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Association Vesta, in partnership with Association Zemlja djece Tuzla, realizes project Strengthening of the role of civil society organizations in the monitoring of the state Strategy for combating violence against children 201-2014 in BiH Associate partner in the project realization is Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees BiH – The Human Rights Department.

The realization of this project intends to make the civil society organizations recognized by their contribution in promotion and monitoring of human rights through their participation in monitoring of the state Strategy for combating violence against children 2011–2014. The findings of such monitoring will be included in the Shadow report, which will be presented to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child together with the official Report produced by Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees BiH.

By implementation of the anticipated project activities, the gap between the civil society and the governmental institutions will be reduced in their joint efforts directed towards prevention of violence against children, and a synergic effect of advocating for creation of the policies for the BiH children’s safer future will be ensured.

Project will be realized in Bosnia and Herzegovina, during next 36 months.

Realization of the project is supported by the European Union's European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).

OBJECTIVES

During the project realization, Association Vesta, together with the partner organization, will:

 Improve the existing Code of Ethical Research with Children in BiH;

 Develop the Protocol and standards which will include a unified methodology for monitoring the state Strategy for combating violence against children 2011-2014;

 Prepare the Shadow Report on implementation of the state Strategy for combating violence against children 2011-2014 which will be presented to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

EXPECTED RESULTS

It is expected that project will directly result in:

 Improved cooperation mechanisms between the BiH Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees and CSOs and recognition of the legitimacy of the civil society to contribute in combating violence against children in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

 Strengthened capacities of the representatives of CSOs which are active in the area of the protection of children’s rights for monitoring of the state Strategy and preparation of the Shadow Report;

 Improved state Report on the implementation of the state Strategy on the basis of the findings and recommendations of the Shadow Report;

 Identify oversights in policies, legislature and the implementation of the national and international instruments for protecting the rights of the child.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Activities foreseen by the project are targeted towards reperesentatives of CSOs involved in the protection of children’s rights, as well as of the governmental institutions responsible for impovement of status of the final beneficiaries, children in BiH. For the purpose of achieving the anticipated results and fulfilling the stated project objectives, following activities will be realized:

 Preparation and adoption of the improved version of the Code of Ethical Research with Children in BiH

 Preparation and adoption of the Protocol with standards for monitoring the state Strategy for combating violence against children 2011-2014

 Education of 30 representatives of CSOs active in the area of the protection of children’s rights on the monitoring of the state Strategy and adoption of a joint methodology for the Shadow Report production

 Monitoring of the Strategy for combating violence against children 2011-2014

 Preparation and promotion of the Shadow Report on the implementation of the state Strategy for combating violence against children 2011-2014

 Comparison of data from the Shadow Report with the draft of the state Report on the implementation of the Strategy for combating violence against children 2011-2014

Realization of planned activities will enable keeping of quality dialogue between representatives of civil society and governmental sector in order to achieve concrete and specific progress in improving the status of children in Bosnia and Herzegovina.