U n NICEF calls for zero tolerance against harassment, sexual abuse in Kosovo

By UNICEF, they have said such abuse is unacceptable and constitutes serious violations of the child's fundamental rights.

U n NICEF calls for zero tolerance against sexual harassment and abuse.

Full announcement:

One more case is that every child must feel secure and protected at all times

U n NICEF is deeply concerned about the latest case of child abuse reported to have occurred at school facilities in Kosovo. Such abuse of a child is unacceptable and constitutes a serious violation of basic children's rights, where all children should feel secure and protected in any environment, including in schools, which should be free of violence and abuse.

According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, each child must feel secure and protected. Furthermore, all institutions, as defined in the Kosovo Law on Child Protection, must take all necessary legislative, administrative, social, and educational measures to protect a child from all forms of physical or mental violence, verbal abuse, abuse, abuse, use, bodily punishment, neglect, or any other form that endangers life, security, health, education and child development.

As for education, the law stipulates that a child will be protected from violence exercised by educational staff, peers, and any other person within the educational system (neen 37). Preservation of a child is the responsibility of all, including those working in schools and educational facilities that are especially in a position to identify and prevent abuse.

The Child Protection Law, which was passed by the Assembly of Kosovo in July 2019, represented an important achievement for protecting children's rights by establishing the legal basis for guaranteeing and protecting children from all forms of physical and psychological violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect, or any other form that endangers life, security, health, education and development. However, according to Kosovo's Multiple Marketing Survey data (MICS) 2020, a large portion of children (72 per cent) reported to have experienced some kind of violence. In general, 30 per cent of children aged 1-14 have experienced physical punishment, and six per cent have experienced severe physical punishment among them.

U n NICEF calls for zero tolerance against sexual harassment and abuse. Moreover, all children should have the right to enjoy the right to education, to follow their teachings, and to learn fearlessly and violence, and to associate with their peers, feeling secure and protected. We require all institutions to advance and implement the Law on Child Protection as a means to help all Kosovo girls and boys enjoy their right to live in a healthy, non-violent environment.

We also urge the media not to report the identities of their children and families. Public information and communication should help eliminate the culture of sexual violence, abuse, and any kind of harassment and help protect children.

U n NICEF will continue to support the work of public institutions, civil society organisations, families, children and youth to promote a safe environment for all children, to live safely and to be protected from any kind of abuse and harassment.