Children without childhood – Top Channel

In any season, they usually ask for money or sell small food items. Some of them stand near traffic lights and approach cars to clean windows and beg.

According to the Kosovo Police, these child stay in unacceptable physical, social, psychological conditions, do not go to school and are often subject to various forms of violence, abuse and exploitation.

In the first six months of this year alone, the Kosovo Police has identified about 200 people alms seeker. Whereas, in July from 12 to 16, during an operational plan of the Kosovo Police, 66 beggars were identified. Of these, 42 children and 24 adults – 45 were the number of children from Albania, while 21 of those from Kosovo.

Last year, according to data, 236 people were identified, while in 2019 this number was 232 people. The responsible authorities acknowledge that it is difficult to determine the exact number of this category.

Representatives of non-governmental organizations consider that the number is significantly higher. Klevis Vajqari from the Coalition for Child Protection, KOMF, says the figures are alarming.

Non-governmental organizations, members of KOMF, for a few days, she says, have identified more than 100 children in the municipalities of Pristina and Prizren alone.

“The investment of the Government and institutions is minimal, not to say zero. “More investment needs to be made to take more measures to get these children off the road,” she said.

Vajqari says state institutions should establish mechanisms to identify, protect and provide social services for these children.

“Except in cases when there are police actions, there is no identification and they do not enter the system of children who work in various forms on the streets. “Identification is not done because services are missing”, she emphasizes.

The Center for Social Work has provided services for these children, such as health services, support for schooling, through overtime and regular schooling.

Blerina Thaçi, child protection and reintegration officer at the Ministry of Finance and Transfers, says that in some cases measures have been taken to remove these children from the streets by cooperating with the Centers for Social Work in providing the necessary services.

Egzona Gashi from the organization “Terre des Hommes” demands more commitment towards this problem. According to her, children in street situations continue to remain an unresolved concern over the years.

“And they remain the most vulnerable group, as it affects their safety, health and well-being. In fact, in many cases they abandon the teaching process “, says Gashi.

The Ombudsman Institution, in a response to Radio Free Europe, says that “Kosovo institutions should do more to adequately prevent, address and address the issue of children in street situations, as over the years this phenomenon has not declined.

People’s Advocate: Government without specific measures for children in street situation

Last year, the People’s Advocate asked the Government of Kosovo, when approving support packages, to include specific measures to support children in street situations. However, the ombudsman says that this request has not been met.

Within the package, supplements have been allocated, from 10 euros for children under the age of 16 and from 20 euros for children from 0 to 24 months. This excludes children aged 16-18 and prioritizes younger children.

Although this can be seen as a small help, which can also benefit children in street situations, given the age constraints, it is difficult to assess how much this group of children can benefit from the supplement.

In Kosovo since 2020 there is a Law on the Protection of Children’s Rights. This law protects children from all forms of physical and mental violence, abuse, misuse, exploitation, neglect or any other form that endangers the life, safety, health, education, education and development of the child./REL

top channel