Child Protection Serbia Project #24103

Protection of missing children

by ASTRA - Anti trafficking action (ASTRA - Akcija protiv trgovine ljudima)

Project Report | Dec 28, 2017
Let children play

By Katarina Ivanovic and Danijela Nikolic | Public Relation Coordinator, SOS Consultant

Acrobalance workshop

In December our activists organized acrobalance and juggling workshop for migrant children in the one of the migrant center on the border with Croatia.

Children always need some fun, so we decided to organized this workshop in order to learn them some new skills and to animate them. On this occasion, we had all day workshop and then artists performed the play for all people in the migrant center. Further, we had the New Year's presents for them, packages with the sweets for every child to say them that we know that they are in our country and somebody is taking care of them. Even they just want to transit, our message is: „If you decide to stay, you should know that you are welcome because migrations are ok, it is all about people.“

This workshop was organized as a part of the project „I am a refugee, I am migrant, I am human“, supported by Embassy of Norway and organization from Serbia Group 484. The name of the campaign is the message that we already mentioned „Migrations are OK. It is all about people“. Also, during the workshop, migrants have had the opportunity to learn more about the risks of trafficking in human beings and how they can prevent being exploited and what to do in the situation if children separate from parents, what is one of the different topics of the European number for missing children in Serbia 116000. We distributed leaflets and played the video spots from the campaign where they can read and see more detailed information about preventive measures and whom to turn to if they survive exploitation or in the situation when the child missing i.e. separates from parents.

The performed action benefits these people directly as it responds to their need for integration into the Serbian society. We expect them to have more information about the rights, and possibilities through the integration process, better acceptance from the citizens in local communities where they are/will be settled. Happiness in the eyes of the children, their smiles and excitement was proof that we did it very well.

After those activities, we were touched and honored by the invitation of one family to visit them and to share some more time together. They opened their door for us, but we felt like they opened their hearts to us, too. In one small room, they put all their world, the pieces of the past (little memories which they saved to keep them connected to the home they left) and bare necessities of the nowadays life (clothing, footwear, food, etc.). In a friendly atmosphere with the scent of cardamon tea which we drank together, we talked about dreams and desires for the next year.

At the end of the year, all people want the same from New, to be healthy and happy. Let's build the bridges of humanity and help the most vulnerable to be safe and to follow their dreams. They count on us!

Collage from acrobalance

Juggling workshop

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Oct 6, 2017
By supporting parents, we support children

By Danijela Nikolic | Consultant at the Number 116000 in Serbia

In the previous period, through the European number for missing children 116000 in Serbia, we were contacted by the mother of a 15-year old boy who ran away from home. As she did not report to the police immediately, and after several hours of disappearance, the mother was not sure if she should report the disappearance to the police or some more time should pass.

When we explained to her that she did not have to wait and what the procedure in the police is, she told us that she will report the disappearance of the son and that she would contact us later. After that, the boy was found very quickly.

However, after a few days, the boy ran away again and it was assumed that he is with the same persons as before. Unfortunately, the elderly persons who were involved in his escape from home also recruited him to commit criminal activities. Luckily, boy was quickly found again.

All the time that we were in contact with the mother we supported her and discussed the options after finding the child. As several problems have been identified, we suggested that they contact a social welfare center and perhaps start with a family therapy due to previously identified problems in the family functioning in order to prevent any future problems.

For many reasons, it is not easy to be young, there are many challenges in growing up, and there are also a lot of misunderstandings in relationships with parents and in general with the authority. Providing support to young people is very important, but also the support to parents who also have their dilemmas regarding how to help their children to deal with all delicate issues and how to support them is also very crucial.

European number for missing children 116000 in Serbia is trying to provide help and advice regarding above mention issues and to provide help and support in order to reconcile these differences in the best way and to prevent problems in communication and behavior.

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Jul 10, 2017
Cooperative efforts in finding a child

By Danijela Nikolic | Consultant at the Number 116000 in Serbia

Data base about missing children case

In the previous report, we wrote about a girl Nina who was still missing. Luckily, we have a good news! Nina was finally found! An associate from the Social welfare center informed us about the news. Nina is now safe and sound. Her medical condition is under control. The joyful news and satisfaction from this outcome after several months of waiting and working on the case convinced us that everything we do makes sense, that every conversation, meeting, appeal, informing the authorities, etc, has additional weight i.e. importance if the goal is achieved, if the child is found. It is also a confirmation of how much cooperation and trust between all actors is necessary in such cases and that such relations must be encouraged.

All our effort is placed to contribute to the creation of a society in which children can safely and happily grow, where adults will give them full support in their upbringing, and as our mission says, we want to contribute to society which is free from all forms of exploitation, violence, discrimination, economic and social inequalities.

In addition to individual stories and cases that we monitor and manage, a very important aspect of our work is the analysis of trends and the evaluation of cases of missing children in our country. On the International Children's Day, which is celebrated on May 25th around the world, ASTRA published a report on the work of the European Children's Missing Children in Serbia, 116000.The data of the entire network of European numbers for missing children show the same structure calls. That is also the case with ASTRA’s line. Namely, the highest percentage of total calls refers to children who escaped from home, followed by parental abductions in second place, unaccompanied migrants and in a very small number (under 1%) abductions by a third person.

ASTRA is constantly trying to point out to state authorities, but also to parents, about the large number of children who are running away from home, because these children are at this very moment vulnerable and may be victims of various forms of exploitation. We supported and welcomed the amendment to the Law on Police, Article 72, that says that the search for missing children would start immediately and not after 24 hours of the child’s disappearance, and urged the implementation of this Article of the Law in practice. We also insisted on the urgent introduction of an alarm system in cases of missing children (so-called Amber Alert) in Serbia, regarding which ASTRA spoke several times with representatives of state institutions, but the concrete steps for the introduction of the Alert system are still lacking.

Marking International Missing Children Day

Links:

Annual Report of the European Missing Children Number in Serbia

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