Combating violence against vulnerable groups of children  Violence against children is the new Child Survival and Development issue.  No standard measures will do.  Need to launch a universal social mobilization campaign – a sense of urgency!  Using a good track record of social change through social mobilization. 1 Marko Karadžić, State Secretary, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, The Republic of Serbia and Member of the Council of Child Rights, Government of the Republic of Serbia

Combating violence against vulnerable groups of children  Children are vulnerable  But are they equal? Main principles: non-discrimination non-discrimination best interest of the child best interest of the child right to life, survival and development right to life, survival and development child participation child participation 2 Marko Karadžić, State Secretary, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, The Republic of Serbia and Member of the Council of Child Rights, Government of the Republic of Serbia

Vulnerability consensus  Children with disabilities  Refugees & IDPs, Readmission agreement returnees  Without parental care  Children in institutions and prisons  Poor  National minorities “It’s their fault”  Roma!!! Vague acceptance  LGBT 3 Marko Karadžić, State Secretary, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, The Republic of Serbia and Member of the Council of Child Rights, Government of the Republic of Serbia

Ways forward What we have  Int’l Conventions  Laws  Institutions  Experts  Activists  Victims  Purpetrators  Status quo What we need  Implementation  Ajusting legislation to meet the real needs of children  Mobilization of children, parents, teachers, media, CSOs, communities  ALL children have rights  Sanctions Marko Karadžić, State Secretary, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, The Republic of Serbia and Member of the Council of Child Rights, Government of the Republic of Serbia 4

Key obstacles  Partial campaigns and unfinished business  Partitocracies - children have no vote  Institutional boundaries – “not in our job description/mandate”  Obliviousness to children  Economic crises – children as “a luxury item”  Poor governance  Covert discrimination, stereotypes, prejudice  Violent and aggressive behaviours cherished and promoted Marko Karadžić, State Secretary, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, The Republic of Serbia and Member of the Council of Child Rights, Government of the Republic of Serbia 5

What we can do  Be the change we want to see  Demonstrate individual integrity and courage  Talk about “the tough issues”  Build pressure from within the system  Connect across institutional and sectoral boundaries  Recognize and promote champions  Stay connected  Celebrate successes  Celebrate successes ☺ (and move back into action) Marko Karadžić, State Secretary, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, The Republic of Serbia and Member of the Council of Child Rights, Government of the Republic of Serbia 6

THANK YOU! Marko Karadžić, State Secretary, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, The Republic of Serbia and Member of the Council of Child Rights, Government of the Republic of Serbia 7