European Union

On 12 November 2008 a roundtable “Mechanisms of prevention, stopping and combating children’s rights violation and violence towards children: experience of citizens’ initiatives implementation” was conducted in Kyiv.

This activity was organised by the Ministry of Ukraine for Family, Youth and Sports in cooperation with the EU-funded Project “Improving Access to Justice for Rural Population” (implemented by Counterpart Creative Center, Civil Society Institute and funded with a €445,000 grant from the European Union.)

During the round table, representatives from different regions of Ukraine presented their experience in conducting informational and educational campaigns in rural areas and attracting attention to children’s rights and the prevention of violence towards children. The mechanisms of the authorities and community interaction to provide children’s rights protection were discussed. Especially it was said that the allying of families’, communities’, NGOs’ and authority’s efforts aimed at violence prevention is very important. Unfortunately, nowadays most of efforts relate to violence committed rather than violence prevented.

The representatives of schools and NGOs said that during informational and educational campaigns, which were conducted in Bar region of Vinnytsa oblast’, Bilghorod-Dnistrovs’k region of Odesa oblast’, Kolomyia region of Ivano-Frankivs’k oblast’, Rozhysche region of Volyn’ oblast’ children, their parents had an opportunity to receive different informational materials about children’s rights, its protection mechanisms, visit courts and judicial organisations to get acquainted with their work. Also different trainings and seminars were conducted.

As a result of campaigns conducted, centres in schools to solve conflicts, clubs for children’s rights have been created, the interaction among different organizations and community is set up to prevent and combat the consequences of violence towards children.

Ms. Lamah, the head of the department for family and gender policy of Ministry of Ukraine for Family, Youth and Sports informed about the priority directions of the activity of the Ministry in the field of children’s rights protection and violence prevention.

Providing for children’s rights protection and prevention of violence towards children is not just the business of government. The role of the society is essential.