Coalition of NGOs for Chil Protection – KOMF, has launched a campaign to find “Child Rights Defenders” among the candidates running for the national elections on February 9, 2025. The campaign urges parliamentary candidates from all political parties to join KOMF’s proposal for the establishment of a “Group of MPs for Children” and to support policies focused on the well-being of children.

The well-being of every child in Kosovo is a cross-party issue and must be a priority for the Assembly. The Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo should be the main guarantor of the best opportunities for every child. Therefore, we call on parliamentary candidates to become defenders of children’s rights, sign a Declaration committing to support children in Kosovo, and, through this, become part of the “Group of MPs for Children” after the February 9 elections. The informal group aims to gather MPs from different political parties who share the view that policies for children and families should be a priority.

With the initiative “Group of MPs for Children,” we, the Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection, call for consensus and constructive work between the Assembly members and civil society. We believe that together we can achieve positive changes in policies for children and families, and we will continue working toward this goal.

What are the problems?

30% of the total population in Kosovo are children. Child poverty remains high. Infant and child mortality in Kosovo is three times the EU average, and the highest in the region. Only 15% of children aged 3-4 participate in early education programs. In 2023, a total of 634 children without parental care were reported. The pass rate for the achievement test in 2023 was only 52.1%, while “PISA” ranked Kosovo 76^th out of 80^th participating countries, recording low results in education quality. Only 10% of children with disabilities benefit from quality health, social, and educational services. Half of schools in Kosovo do not have access for children with disabilities. Spending on health services for children remains high.

It is estimated that the total number of drug users has surpassed 30,000, while children and adolescents continue to be part of this number every year. Alarmingly, the average age of first drug use is decreasing, from 18 years in 2018 to 16 years in the recent period. The number of requests from children for mental health services has increased, while the number of mental health professionals is severely limited to meet demands and provide quality services. There are only 7 child and adolescent psychiatrists at the national level and only 10 clinical psychology specialists in the secondary and tertiary healthcare sectors. Juvenile delinquency is on the rise, with 1,867 criminal complaints filed for offenses committed by minors in 2023.

What are the solutions?

Candidates for parliament can contribute with their work to support policies in favor of children and families in Kosovo, such as:

1. Creating policies and increasing investments for the development of a proactive and inclusive social protection system for all children, without discrimination.
2. Reducing child poverty and combating social exclusion among children and families.
3. Amending and approving the Local Government Finance Law to create a Special Grant for Social Services to ensure the sustainability of social services for vulnerable children.
4. Creating an integrated system for early childhood development and increasing investments to raise the inclusion rate of children.
5. Monitoring the implementation of the Child Protection Law, strengthening the child protection system to effectively protect all children from violence, abuse, child labor, trafficking, etc.
6. Developing policies to empower parents for the quality care of children.
7. Increasing investments to improve the quality of education, ensuring inclusion in schools, and preventing school dropouts and violence.
8. Ensuring the implementation of the Health Insurance Law, the Essential Medicines List, and increasing access to and the quality of health services for children.
9. Increasing human resources within public health institutions for child mental health and establishing preventive and rehabilitative services and programs to treat children who use narcotic substances.
10. Approving the Draft Law on Rights, Assessment, Treatment, and Recognition of the Status, Services, and Benefits for Persons with Disabilities to ensure services and support for children with disabilities.
11. Strengthening the juvenile justice system to prevent delinquency and rehabilitate minors in conflict with the law.

By signing this declaration, each parliamentary candidate, in addition to the 11 points mentioned above, must commit to:

• Being the initiator of the establishment of the Group of MPs for Children in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo.
• Being a defender of children’s rights as part of the “Group of MPs for Children” and acting in their best interests.
• Having dialogue and constructive cooperation with fellow MPs in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo on children’s issues. • Ensuring dialogue with civil society on children’s rights issues and supporting families. • Seeking the inclusion and consultation of children and youth and listening to their voices.