Serbia and Montenegro Overview

The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro has a total area of 13,812 sq km with 10.5 million habitants, including 2.5 million children. The country is divided into two republics and two nominally autonomous provinces. Kosovo is currently under UN administration, as per UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

The wars of the 1990s have created more than half a million refugees and internally displaced persons in the country. Despite the encouraging achievements and firm commitment to reforming the social welfare system in the last couple of years, the system continues to reflect the general deterioration of socio-economic conditions. The child protection system is based on out-dated and inappropriate standards and work methodologies. Child rights are not mainstreamed in the system and the participation of children and families in services and community development is not encouraged. Increasing poverty among households and insufficient family support systems have exposed children to domestic violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Child protection concerns

Vulnerability factors

An estimated 10.6% of the population in Serbia and 13% in Montenegro live below the poverty line (US$2.40 and US$4 per day respectively). These figures do not include internally displaced persons, refugees, Roma or people living in collective centres, most of whom are poor. The are approximately 800,000 people living below poverty line, of whom 600,000 are children (Living Standard Measurement Survey, LSMS). Children aged 7-14 are 20% more likely to be poor than the rest of the population.

Deprivation of parental care

The total number of children in public care in Serbia and Montenegro was 13,700 in 2002, of which 7,900 children were in guardianship or foster care and 5,800 children lived in residential institutions. Most of these children live without adequate support for their psychological, emotional and social development. Family-based alternatives are being considered, but institutions are still being overused. At present, there is no national strategy or legislation that addresses this issue or the related issue of violence against children.

Deprivation of liberty

According to NGO data, there are 17,000 to 20,000 children in conflict with the law in Serbia; and 2.400 children under age 18 were sentenced for criminal activity in 2002 (TransMONEE Database, 2004).

Exposure to violence, exploitation and abuse

Many children in Serbia and Montenegro are victims of abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation. No official data is available and there is no official reporting mechanism.

Discrimination and social exclusion

While the Convention on the Rights of the Child is still not fully reflected in national laws and policies, an ambitious social reform process is underway that aims to harmonize new legislation with international conventions. Serbia and Montenegro has met many of the Millennium Development Goals, but wide and increasing disparities and the exclusion of some population groups pose a threat to the sustainability of these achievements.
The Roma are one of the biggest minorities in the country. According to the 2002 census in Serbia , Roma account for 1.5% of the population or almost 80,000 people. In reality, however, the number may be much higher because of the arrival of displaced Roma from Kosovo and recent waves of repatriation from Western Europe. Many Roma are not registered and have no personal documents. This makes it easy to prevent them from claiming the benefits of citizenship and their human rights, including access to health care, social welfare, education and employment. Roma children have an under-5 mortality rate that is four times higher then the national average.
Among Roma in settlements, two out of three Roma children live below the poverty line (Living Standard Measurement Survey, LSMS).
The poverty rate among refugees and internally displaced persons is double the national average. In Montenegro, 48.9% of refugee/IDP children and 57% of Roma , Ashkalia and Egyptian (RAE) children live below the poverty line.

What has been done

Attribution and support to the Montenegro Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare in developing " Strategic Plan of reforming services for children". This document introduced reform of social protection and child care system.
Support in establishment multidisciplinary municipal teams for identification and response in cases of child abuse and neglect . Protocols of cooperation between sectors for adequate response in cases of child abuse and neglect developed and adopted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.
Upgraded knowledge and skills for professional staff in Centers for Social Welfare.
Attribution in developing municipal Commission for cooperation with NGO sector in the area of promotion and protection children`s rights - establishment of municipal Fond for cooperation with NGOs in Podgorica.
Comprehensive assessment of juvenile justice system and attribution to the Ministry of Justice in drafting Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Family Law in order to ensure compliance with UN CRC.
Establishment of the first alternative care for children with disabilities. Innovative model of management involving duty bearers at all levels: Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare , municipality Bijelo Polje, Center for Social Welfare and Association of Parents with children with disabilities. The Center in function within budget of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.

Key donors

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency - Sida
German Committee for UNICEF
Canadian International Development Agency - CIDA
Vodafone UK Natcom
Luxembourg

Partners

UNICEF’s main partners in its Child Protection Programme are the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Policy Justice, and the Interior, as well as municipal authorities, local communities, international and national NGOs, national and international experts, children and adolescents.