1. Tamara Luksic Orlandic Serbian Ombudsman Deputy Ombudsperson for the Rights of the Child Ankara, 27-28 November, 2012 Stepping up Progress: Regional Conference on Combating Violence against Children Supporting children and families through positive parenting

2. The current role of the Ombudsman in relation to violence against children Ombudsman established expert group to prepare comprehensive Child Act In the first Draft, protection of children from violence and banning of CP in all settings, including respect of dignity of a child has been proposed This proposal provokes the biggest polarization and raised numerous controversies in the public (The first Draft was presented to the public in December last year), Media gave their contribution in pro et contra discussions for legal banning with an accent that legal banning is entering into family private life. It was clear that a new approach was needed

3. A fight for the new approach Starting point – disadvantages traditional attitudes that parents are those who have the power over their children legal banning is interference into the family life Serbian family is still patriarchal with dominant role of man and subordinate role of woman and children Still dominant role of the Church followed by right wing NGOs as an echo of 90-ties which supports traditional family composition (against LGBT persons and same sex partnership) Some figures: 57% of parents in UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 25,00 ТЛ (MICS) 2005 pool reported that they use CP in disciplining their children; 37% of parents in MICS 2010 reported the same.

4. Starting point - advantages Corporal punishment was legally prohibited in schools in Serbia from 1929 The Law on public schools, and in every further law on education up to current one In correctional institutions and juvenile prisons it is strictly prohibited. In social care institution it is not literally prohibited such as in educational institutions, but it is indirectly banned, as the professional has to take care of children respecting their dignity The same wording is in The Family Act, but explicit ban doesn't exist.

5. Additional advantages In 2005 Serbian Government issued a General Protocol for Protection of Children from Abuse and Neglect. This document is the first high-level answer on wide spread emersion of violence against children, especially domestic violence. In 2008, National Parliament adopted a National Strategy for Prevention and Protection of Children from Violence, as the high - level response in Serbia to violence against children. These two documents - General protocol and National strategy pointed out the fact that violence, especially domestic violence is outspread in Serbia

6. Proactive initiative of the Ombudsman supported by Unicef The goal is to approach parents in order to influence them in their parental role in order to prevent them using CP (target groups: parents of newborns and parents of children who are enrolled in first class, because the early childhood is of the most importance) Training of pediatricians and teachers were organized to enhance them to approach parents and explain them new possibilities of raring children without using CP Instructive brochure „About Parenting Without Beating“ has been prepared for parents

7. The Role of Children in the Project Public pool was organized among children and was conducted by the children – Young Advisor’s Panel (YAP) Total number of 812 students (children in highest two classes of elementary schools) were interviewed Youth Advisory Panel is the permanent counseling body within the Ombudsman (consists of 30 children 13 -17 years ) They have already started awareness raising campaign in their schools among their peers and their parents

8. How children perceive CP Children have absolutely negative attitude towards CP. They recognize non efficiency of CP, harmful and dangerous consequences of applying CP 84% consider that wrong behavior should and can be corrected without beating 82% consider that beating can injure body and child’s personality 63% are of the opinion that CP provokes fear but not understanding 61% recognize that children who are exposed to CP at home, easier get involved in peer abuse, either as the perpetrator or a victim 51% realize that children who are frequently beaten have law self confidence (only 16% oppose this)

9. What is opposite to the CP – children's views 77% consider that children have to be equally protected from physical and all other degrading punishment 61% consider that children should have the same protection at home as they have at school 90% think that parents should explain to children what is acceptable behavior and what is not 88% think that parents should praise a child and encourage him/her to behave properly 84% think that personal example of behavior of parent is more effective in raring children than the CP

10. Statement of Serbian Ombudsman regarding corporal punishment – an official act Serbian Ombudsman is the only state authority in Serbia (though independent) that publicly announced its statement on CP (presented at the Press conference, put on the web site, and sent to the Peter Newell and his site End Corporal Punishment as well The main point of the Statement is that legal prohibition of corporal punishment is necessary to finally save children from beating in all settings, including family Prohibition of CP is based on the principle that no physical punishment is reasonable and in the interest of a child Apart from enhancing parents to use other forms of disciplining children, a constant education of professionals working with children is necessary

11. What to suggest parents instead of using CP Brochure offers several ways of escaping CP and using other models of raring, such as: time-out (2 -10): send a child in other room for few minutes to calm down ( as many minutes as the child’s age) change environment, not a child (1-6): move dangerous and expensive objects from a child, instead punishing the child for its curiosity praise (applicable for all ages): the most efficient, but the least applicable in everyday life compensation of damage (applicable for all ages): a child, not a parent, has to apologize to whom a child made damage, insult, etc.. restrict privileges: to watch TV, use PC, pocket money, playing with friends, etc. awarding a child (applicable for all ages) for those situation which are not pleasant for a child (to correct bad mark in a school) contracting (with a teenager): both sides (parents and a child) should have obligations in the contract

12. TO CONCLUDE: Project on Positive parenting will be finalized at the end of April 2013 Until then, thousands of brochures will be disseminated among young parents NGO Network is supporting our activities, especially NGO “ The Parent”, whose activists are in touch with parents on daily basis It is expected that our initiative for banning CP in all settings will be finally adopted when Draft Child Act enters into Parliament procedure

13. Thank you for your attention Tamara Luksic – Orlandic Email: tamara.luksic-orlandic@ombudsman.rs