The Stronger Voice for Children network, in cooperation with World Vision Bosnia and Herzegovina, released the Child Protection Index 2.0 for Bosnia and Herzegovina last month. Representatives of governmental and civil society organizations, as well as international stakeholders, were present at the launch. Fourteen child protection professionals worked collaboratively for one year to develop the Index. The resulting report examines the latest governmental measures aimed at bringing the country in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Index comprises 987 indicators and targets four primary areas: vulnerability of children, management environment, prevention of all forms of violence, and social work capacity. It puts forward ‘five dimensions of government actions: policies and laws, services, capacities/resources, coordination and accountability’. The areas analysed by the Child Protection Index 2.0 for Bosnia and Herzegovina include: ‘protecting children from discrimination, registering children by birth, protecting children separated from their parents, protecting children from all forms of violence, protecting children without parental care, protecting children from economic exploitation, drug abuse, sexual exploitation, abductions, protecting children of refugees and asylum seekers, child victims of torture and degrading treatment, and children in conflict with the law’.
In 2016, the Child Protection Index was measured for the first time in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since then, significant progress has been made on most of the examined indicators. Moreover, the report offers a series of concrete recommendations for Bosnian authorities and stakeholders in domains where the government has taken a step backwards, or where there haven't been improvements.
The Child Protection Index 2.0 for Bosnia and Herzegovina is part of a wider project implemented by ChildPact, with support from World Vision and BMZ Germany, which piloted the Child Protection Index in nine countries, including BiH, in 2015. This year, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child will mark its 30th anniversary, and a report of its progress is expected to be released.
The Child Protection Index 2.0 for Bosnia and Herzegovina can be downloaded here.