Kosovo

Developing a Child Protection Safety Net

Active in Kosovo since 2000, Terre des hommes (Tdh) runs a project to better protect children against abuse, neglect, violence, delinquency, exploitation and trafficking. In 2010, 22’360 people benefited from the activities implemented.

Context

Kosovo declared itself independent in 2008. As it is not yet internationally recognized, the situation among ethnic groups remains tense and difficult to manage. The political climate has impacted the economic and social situation, with widespread poverty and high unemployment rates leading to risks of trafficking and exploitation, children being the most vulnerable group. It concerns especially children from RAE (Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian) communities who often do not access or drop out of school early and live on begging. Children from Albania also cross the border to beg on the streets in Kosovo’s cities benefiting from the presence of many international workers. The problems faced by the children are numerous. Yet, their protection is not yet seen as a priority by the authorities.

Our intervention

Terre des hommes develops a holistic project aiming at reinforcing the child protection mechanisms at several levels:

- At municipal level, task forces are established to coordinate child protection interventions among the various stakeholders involved (social services, schools, police, community leaders, etc.). Individual cases are reviewed monthly in order to implement effective coordinated solutions;

- One of the main child protection actors are the Centres for Social Work. Child Protection Units are created within them to reinforce the specific management of cases dealing with children;

- Referral mechanisms are implemented at school level to better identify and help the most vulnerable children. School psychologists or pedagogues meet children individually or in group and identify the most vulnerable of them in order to refer them. Psychosocial, sport and recreational activities are held;

- Meanwhile, communities, especially the most marginalised, are mobilised in protecting children rights and organising prevention activities;

- Finally, residential institutions are strengthened on child protection issues. The Toolkit Keeping Children Safe was even translated in Albanian.

• 21.164467 42.673264

  Pristina

• 20.300817 42.657356

  Peja

• 20.867229 42.882335

  Mitrovica

• 20.265255 42.453177

  Gjakova

• 21.153631 42.379255

  Ferizaj

• 21.099744 42.636756

  Fushe Kosovo