12 October 2020

Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection in Kosovo – KOMF has launched the national campaign “My municipality, my social right”, which aims to further raise awareness and mobilize decision makers for urgent intervention in providing social services to citizens in need, whose condition is even more exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

During June 2020, KOMF published the Monitoring Report which reflected the extremely aggravated situation of social services in the country. In the absence of sustainable financing, many social services are already closed or are on the verge of closing. As a result, many vulnerable children and citizens are being left without the necessary services for their development and well-being.

Through this campaign, KOMF aims to convey the recommendations of the monitoring report to decision makers and institutions in order to prioritize and invest in the development of social services. KOMF considers that the confrontation with the Covid-19 pandemic confirms even more the need for urgent intervention in the provision of social services to citizens in need.

Through this campaign, key actors involved in ensuring the well-being of citizens will convey messages about their priorities and work to provide social and family services. Also, representatives from civil society and international organizations in Kosovo, through messages aim to mobilize decision makers to invest in social services.

Part of the virtual campaign that will be conducted through social networks will be the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, mayors, representatives of civil society and representatives of international agencies in Kosovo. In order to increase the attention of institutions for urgent intervention in providing services to citizens in need and to raise awareness of the general public on the importance of social welfare, KOMF has placed in front of the Government building, a symbol that represents institutional responsibility and obligation to ensure social welfare for all.

Also, in order to improve social services, KOMF is supporting the drafting of the new Law on Social and Family Services. Therefore, in addition to the virtual campaign, throughout this week, KOMF will hold consultations with civil society, Centers for Social Work, Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, representatives from municipalities, etc., to give voice to the views of civil society, institutions and stakeholders during the drafting of the new Law on Social and Family Services.

This activity is conducted under the project “Strengthening Social Services for Vulnerable Children and Families”, funded by the Swiss Embassy in Kosovo and implemented by the Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection and the project “Joint Action for Decentralization ”, funded by the European Union, managed by the EU Office in Kosovo and implemented by the Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages, Organization for Children without Parental Care – OFAP and KMOP.