United National Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in cooperation with the Federation Public Health Institute and Mobile Team for Prevention of Begging from Sarajevo and staff from four day-centers for children did a research about children in BiH who are begging and working on the street.
Results of the research are concerning, but the information that there is interest of all segments of society to solve that problem in BiH is encouraging.
Representative of UNICEF for BiH Ayman Abu Laban stated today that aim of the research is to raise awareness of everyone on this problem, but it is also an attempt to find practical solutions.
According to his opinion, public officials and all citizens of this country are responsible for this problem and role of civil society is important in solving it.
Abu Laban reminded that laws here ban child labor on the street, and added that problem is implementing it.
”There are regulations on mandatory education of children, ban of child labor. However, the question is how they are being implemented, to what extent,” he said.
It was noticed in the research that children who are working on the street are going through all forms of abuse, every day and all the time. They are often hungry, victims of different forms of exploitation, most of them do not have an opportunity for education or to completely develop their potential.
Author of the research Ruth Rosenberg finds that research results are concerning, but she also emphasized a positive segment, such as the one that most examinees have access to health protection.
She also emphasized there is interest in solving this problem and she emphasized that implies coordination of government and non-governmental sector, police and social work centers, schools…
Research shows there are 638 children in Sarajevo, from 7 to 18 years old begging on the street, 182 in Mostar, 192 in Tuzla, and 63 in Banja Luka.
Amount of fine for begging is different, but it showed that fines are not efficient way to solve this problem.
(Source: Fena)
