Transcript Government of the Republic of Serbia Ministry of Labor and Social Policy GENERAL AND SPECIAL PROTOCOL ON CHILD PROTECTION FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

Government of the Republic of Serbia
Ministry of Labor and Social Policy
GENERAL AND SPECIAL PROTOCOL
ON CHILD PROTECTION FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT
GENERAL PROTOCOL on child
protection from abuse and neglect
Legally binding document that provides
guidelines for action to all providers of services
dealing with children and families from
governmental and non-governmental, as well
as from private sector in order to jointly work
for the well-being of children in situations
where there is a suspicion that the child has
experienced abuse or neglect, or a threat that
s/he may undergo such experience.
Scope of child abuse and
neglect in Serbia
Data are inaccurate and incomplete
due to:
 absence of integrated data basis,
 difficulty of comparing data from
different sectors,
 prevalence of action researches
conducted on apposite samples
Forms of child abuse
Source: Child Protection Department, Institute of
Mental Health 2003-2004
Zanemarivanje
25%
Seksualno
zlostavljanje
17,2%
Emocionalno
zlostavljanje
61,4%
N=416
Fizičko
zlostavljanje
50,7%
Children’s ideas and reflections on abuse
Every child has been the victim of abuse at least once
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50% have experienced some kind of abuse
10% have experienced severe forms of abuse (physical,
sexual)
(Qualitative research that included children and youth aged 10 to 19
in 7 municipalities, UNICEF, 2005)
Prerequisites for efficent child abuse
prevention and child protection
system:
Clearly defined state policy
 Adequate legal framework
 Mechanisms for establishing and
maintaining efficient network
 Public sensitivity and quality of
training of professionals in
relation to violence
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Organized efforts in developing
system of protection
from violence in Serbia 2000-2005
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Defining new policy
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Action for Children Plan (2004)
Social Welfare System Reform Strategy (2005)
National Strategy against Violence - Starting Framework (2005)
Enhancing legislative framework
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Criminal Law Amendments (2002)
Law on Basis of the Educational and Upbringing System
(2003)
Family Law (2005)
Law on Juvenile Offenders and Criminal Legal Protection of
Minors (2006)
Law on Prevention of Discrimination against Persons with
Disabilities (2006)
Law on Children’s Ombudsman (pending)
Network for child protection
from abuse and neglect
Participants in the process of protection:
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social protection, health, education,
police, judiciary, local self-government
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non-governmental sector
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citizens – children and adults
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media
Integrated intersectoral
approach to child protection
Prerequisites:
 Sensitivity to children’s rights
 Clear idea about common goal
 Definition of child abuse and neglect
accepted by all
 Clearly defined roles, responsibilities
and ways of cooperation of all
participants in the process
Protocol objective
To provide balanced response in the best
interest of the child:
 Prompt and coordinated procedure that
protects the child from further abuse or
neglect (authoritative intervention)
 Support to the family to enable it to
protect the child and make it possible
for him/her to have unimpeded
development
Protocol content
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Definitions of child abuse and neglect
Steps in the process of child protection
Roles of different systems in the
process
Ways of communication between
participants in the process of protection
Legislative regulations relating to child
protection from abuse and neglect
Steps in the process of child
protection
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Discovering and reporting child abuse or
neglect
Initial assesment and inquiry
Immediate interventions (if there are
clues indicating child abuse)
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Planning of services and measures
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Intervention implementation
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Monitoring and evaluation
ASSESSMENT
upon receipt of report
Case OPENED
Case
NOT OPENED
No
additional
services
Additional
services
Nonoccurrence of
abuse or neglect
Assessment Manager
designated
INITIAL ASSESSMENT
within 7 days
Occurrence of abuse
or neglect
Case
conference
Protection plan
Case review
URGENT
PROTECTION
MEASURES
FEEDBACK TO
REPORTER
Emergency
placement
SPECIAL PROTOCOL
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Special Protocol provides safety and
promotion of the well-being of all
children in institutions, particularly
ensuring their full participation in the
procedure
Special Protocol includes
protection of children placed in:
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institutions for the placement of
children without parental care,
institutions and daytime centers for the
placement of handicapped children
reception centers and shelters
institutions for children and youth in
clash with the law
foster families
Roles of teams according to
Special Protocol:
1.
2.
3.
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Internal team implements child
protection, collects information and reports
the case to the External and Central team.
External (Regional team) conducts
inquiry
Central team keeps central records on
reported cases
Police and investigative authorities
(Prosecutor’s Office) carry out investigation
OPEN ISSUES
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WHAT TO DO AFTER URGENT
INTERVENTION ?
REQUIRED SERVICES
LEGAL AID