In Sarajevo, successfully organised Workshop

For preparation of the Code of Ethical research with children and the Protocol with standards for monitoring of the state Strategy for combating violence against children 2011-2014 in BiH

The beginning of the week was marked by a successfully realised two-day workshop which convened a forum of competent experts from the non-governmental sector and relevant government institutions active in the protection of children's rights and combating violence against children. While exchanging knowledge and experience, the participants gave very constructive recommendations for improving the existent Code of Ethical research with children and preparation of the Protocol for monitoring of the state Strategy on combating violence against children 2011-2014 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Productive discussion pointed towards the existing gaps in the Ethical Code as well as its sections in need of improvement and adaptation to the current condition in the BiH, all in view of best possible protection of vulnerable children. The said documents, primarily Protocol for monitoring of the state Strategy will need to ensure collection of data on cases and forms of violence against children, using a unified methodology and standards harmonised with the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of the rights of the children, enable more efficient multisectoral data analyses and aid identification of gaps in the policies related to the protection of the children’s rights in BiH. The participants of the workshop were able to learn more about the status of the new Draft of the state Strategy for combating violence against children in BiH 2011-2014.

The workshop gathered 46 representatives of the non-governmental organisations active in the area of the monitoring and protection of the child's rights in BiH, relevant governmental institutions and service providers, international organisations, Institution of the Ombudsman, academic community and other interested parties.

The organised workshop is a part of the project 'Strengthening the role of the civil society organisation in the monitoring of the state Strategy for combating violence against children 2011-2014 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, implemented by the Association Vesta Tuzla, in partnership with the Association Zemlja djece, Tuzla. The Associate partner on the project is the BiH Ministry for human rights and refugees. The project is financed by the European Union and will be implemented during the period January 2011 – December 2013.

Realisation of the project aims to contribute to strengthening the role of civil society organisations in promotion and monitoring of the human rights of children, as well as identification of problems and reporting on the overall situation in this area. The projects fosters stronger mechanisms of cooperation between the Ministry of Human Rights and

Refugees and civil society organisations which will, with strengthened capacities, take part in the monitoring of the Strategy for combating violence against children 2011-2014. They will also participate in the preparation of the Shadow report which will, together with the Report of the responsible state Ministry, be presented to the UN Committee for the Rights of the Child.