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Summary
Contact Information
Office Size and Structure
History of the Office
General Remarks
| SUMMARY |
The name
of the Macedonian Ombudsperson for Children is Ms. Nevenka Krusarovksa.
She works as one of the four deputies of the general Ombudsman, Mr. Branko
Naumovski. In the Ombudsman's office, she is heading the Child Protection
Department and concentrates her work solely on child related
matters.
Ms. Krusarovska started working in November 1999, using the day of the
tenth Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child as an
opportunity to present her role and existence as Ombudsperson for Children
in Macedonia to the public |
| CONTACT
INFORMATION |
| Postal
Address |
Address:
Dimitrie Cupovski 2
91000 Skopje
Macedonia |
| Telephone |
+389
91 129 327 |
| Fax |
+389
91 129 359 |
| Title
of Ombudsman |
Ombudsperson for Children in Macedonia to the public. |
| Name
of Ombudsman |
Ms. Nevenka
Krusarovksa. |
| OFFICE
SIZE AND STRUCTURE |
| Number of staff
members |
One
assistant and one secretary |
| Summary
of annual Budget |
|
Ms. Nevenka's department does not manage
a budget on its own. It is part of the general budget of the Ombudsman's
Office which is not available. An exception to this is UNICEF's support of
11,100 USD to the Child Protection Department for a period of one year
June 2000- May 2001. |
| HISTORY
OF THE OFFICE |
| Date the office
was established |
November
1999 |
| Legislation
establishing the office |
 | Constitutional/legal base -- Is it established by
statute? Is it independent of government? Does it focus on
implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child? Does it
have a role in monitoring and promoting children's rights? etc. |
The department of child protection
undertakes its actions in accordance with the proceedings as determined by
the Law on the Public Attorney and can conduct the same activities and
undertake the same measures as the Ombudsman (or Public Attorney) when
citizens submit complaints about child rights violations. According to the
Law on the Public Attorney, the Department for Child Protection can act
upon submitted complaints within the framework of this repective Law as
well as ex officio.
The Macedonian Constitution and Law on
the Public Attorney prescribes the Ombudsman's office as independent and
impartial from the government with a competence and aturhorisation to take
measures and action against public administration once citizen's rights
are violated. Within an annual report or special interim reports, the
Ombudsman's office is able to present the situation of human and
children's rights in the country before the Parliament.
Within the current framework of the Law
on the Public Attorney, only citizens can file complaints at the
Ombudsman's office, thereby excluding children. So far, only parents,
teachers or other relatives have submitted 50 cases about child rights
violations which were successfully proceeded by the Ombudsperson for
Children. In order for children to be able to file complaints directly,
the Ombudsperson for Children is preparing an Amendment to the Law on the
Public Attorney to be presented to Parliament in September 2000 in order
for the Law to be amended. This amendment will lead to provision of direct
access to Children to file complaints about rights violations to the
Ombudspersons for Children's office themselves.
As written earlier, (besides the frame
provided by the Law on the Public Attorney), the Ombudsperson for Children
can also undertake actions ex officio. For example: when information is
received through the media or through an informal child's complaint. Then,
the Ombudsperson assesses the situation and if there is a violation of
child rights, parents are requested their consent for the Ombudspersons
office to take actions. The respective Centre for Social Work is
subsequently contacted, as legal guardian of child protection in the
Macedonian law, to investigate the case and to take appropriate action. In
addition, the Ombudsperson has started procedures before criminal court in
order to recuperate (successfully) justice to a child who had suffered
corporal punishment in the school |
|
| Terms
of reference or Mission Statement |
|
During 12 days Ms. Krusarovska has been
trained to become a child rights trainer in the principles as laid down in
the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This training was provided by
an international consultant for also 30 NGO representatives. At the end of
the child rights training, a NGO coalition on child protection was
established with NGO s present at the training all presenting a mandate to
work for children's issues, child protection or in a woman organisation.
The Ombudsperson is closely collaborating with this NGO coalition.
Furthermore she is working on education on child rights to children in the
schools by travelling through the country to create awareness about
herself as Ombudsperson for Children and to teach children about their
rights. During these visits the Centres of Social Work are also met.
Furthermore, the Ombudsperson has
written recommendations for revision of the Law on Child Protection in
order to better protect street children. In addition to that, she has
recommended the government to establish a shelter in Skopje in order for
the children to be picked up from the street and brought to the shelter
where children and their parents can be educated, receive psychosocial
support and recreational activities.
The Ombudsperson has finalised her work
on review of legislation to comply with the CRC and is presenting this
comprehensive document with recommendations for revision of legislation
and amendments to current legislation covering children's issues before
the government after the summer holidays.
During a recent visit of the Chairman of
the European Network of Ombudsmen for Children (ENOC), Mr. Trond Waage,
The Ombudsperson for Children submitted her request for membership of ENOC
which has been accepted by ENOC. Therefore, the Macedonian Ombudsperson
will also include in her daily occupations, her membership of ENOC with
preparations to the Annual Meeting, official visits to other Ombudsperson
for Children Offices in Europe and exchange of information, ideas and
suggestions, etc. |
| General
Remarks |
|
The role of the Ombudsperson was
discussed by many NFOS working the field of child protection especially
when it was just 'new' to them. After Ms. Krusarovska has received and
worked with these NGOs on child rights and is present at the NGO
coalition, a fruitful collaboration among these bodies has been
established.
Always when there is something new and
dealing with human or children rights, that leads to discussion in a
country in transition. The role of the Ombudsperson for Children still
need to be advocated much more in order for her existence to become known
widespread all over the country and Ms. Krusarovska is on the right way to
do her work in the best interest of Macedonian children and to increase
their protection., |
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