17 July 2020

KOMF, on the occasion of the entry into force of the Law on Child Protection, calls on the Government and municipalities to commit to this law to find the necessary implementation and guarantee the rights and protection of all children in Kosovo. KOMF calls for the implementation of the Law on Child Protection to receive immediate attention and investment from all sectors and also to become a priority for institutions working on child protection.

The Law on Child Protection, drafted for the first time in Kosovo, enters into force on 17 th of July, 2020, marking a very important step for Kosovo towards fulfilling its commitment to support and guarantee the rights and protection of children.

The entry into force of this law, finds the country in an even more critical situation and condition as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which above all has aggravated the condition of children. For several months now, many children have been left without the necessary services and protection to help them develop. Children with disabilities and children involved in work continue to be in a very serious condition . On the other hand, prolonged isolation and difficult living conditions have contributed to the increase in the use of violence against children and in general to the increase in domestic violence.

The Law on Child Protection aims to protect the child from all forms of violence, abuse, or any other form that endangers the life, safety, health, education and development of the child. This law aims to ensure the responsibilities of parents, family, guardianship body, society and the state in the care, protection and development of the child, as well as the establishment of an integrated and functional system of child protection .

Considering the current situation of children, the lack of adequate services and the immediate need for intervention to guarantee their protection, KOMF appeals once again to all central and local institutions to make the protection of children an absolute priority and to undertake in a timely manner immediate all necessary steps for rigorous and comprehensive implementation of the Law on Child Protection!

KOMF member organizations remain committed to support institutions in drafting bylaws and law enforcement. KOMF will also monitor the implementation of the Law on Child Protection based on its mission.