BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, BALKAN CHILD POLICE ACADEMY PROJECT

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Background IDEA The Project ‘Child Police Academy’ (CPA) works in Bulgaria since 2002 as a joint initiative of: Opportunity and Protection Association (NGO) and the Regional Directorate of Police in Haskovo and Stara Zagora.

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Background September 29 - October 1, 2008 The CPA Project was presented at the 3rd Regional Community Policing Forum, Sofia It provoked the interest of the participants. Many talks have been held with partners from the SEPCA member-states in order to develop a joint project

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Background December, 10-12, 2008 International workshop „Balkan Child Police Academy” was held in Bansko, Bulgaria. Participants from Bulgaria, Macedonia and Serbia were presented. SEPCA also was represented in this event, where it clearly stated the interest of the Association to collaborate in such initiative in the framework of Community Policing and Traffic Security projects.

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Overall objectives To contribute to the public security in the field of children in the region of SEPCA members; To influence the processes of improvement and development of national policies and practices for interaction between the police children and civil society organization dealing with child security and well being.

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Target areas 1.Communication between children and police officers; 2.Child education in traffic safety; 3.Child and human rights, especially child’s rights; 4.Child maltreatment and molestation; 5.Child protection from pedophilia; 6.Secure child distress and emergency phone.

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Specific objectives 1.Enhanced education, awareness and trust building with children in the fields of the above pointed target components in SEPCA region through: Identification and selection of existing nationally based relevant projects in SEPCA members; Supporting the process of information and best practices exchange between national projects through annual meetings, SEPCA Intranet and other e-facilities; Dissemination and multiplication of the best practices – annual handbooks, annual reports, bilateral, trilateral and multilateral cooperation between BCPA participants initiated during annual meetings upon presentation of new practices.

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Specific objectives 2.Increased cooperation between police and civil society organizations (CSOs) aiming at enhanced public security. 3.Contribute to development and implementation of the Community Policing Platform in SEE region.

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Outcomes 1.Enhanced public security in the field of children in the region of the member-states of SEPCA through: Nationally based projects in the SEPCA members in the target areas. 1 annual meeting of the representatives of the nationally based projects for exchange of best practices Annual handbook, annual report and information material for dissemination of best practices. Bilateral/multilateral study visit - for adoption and application of a certain model (presented at the annual meeting) in another SEPCA member-state

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Outcomes 2.Enhanced cooperation between the police and the civil society represented by NGOs, schools and children; 3.UN Convention on the Right of the Child and relevant international standards are integrated into the nationally based projects in Public security in the field of children.

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Activities 1.Regional research of already working national projects in the SEPCA member - countries, related to enhancement of public security and safety of children (Table 1)

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Activities 2.A kick-off regional meeting The aim of the meeting is a presentation of this project and the conducted regional research. The expected outcome of the meeting is to identify the relevant national projects that will participate in the first phase of the BCPA programme.

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Activities 3.Annual regional meeting of the representatives of the nationally based projects for exchange of best practices The meeting will be a 3-day; 2 representatives of each SEPCA member will participate (national project manager and representative of civil organization that implements the respective national project); The main purpose of the annual forum is the presentation of national projects, exchange information, discussion about opportunities for bilateral/multilateral study visits for adoption and application of a certain model in another SEPCA member state.

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Activities 4.Annual handbook of best practices It will contain information about the BCPA programme, the national projects, the opportunities for cooperation. It will be issued in 2500 copies in English and will be distributed in the member-states and other interested organizations.

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Activities 5.Building up a (virtual) partner network for exchange of information and experience through SEPCA Intranet, group, features of Facebook or other e-facility. 6.Monitoring of models at national level based on regular feedback from National BCPA project managers and one site visit at any national project by the regional project manager.

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Time Schedule Plan SeptemberSofia, Kick-off meeting Sept-NovBuilding – up network between national projects NovemberRegional BCPA Meeting on exchanging best practices Oct-NovMonitoring of the national projects, compiling data about projects DecemberDissemination of best practices – annual notebook and annual report DecemberBCPA Steering Committee Meeting

BCPA project, Kick off meeting, Sofia, September, 12-13, Thank you Malina Slavova Regional Project Manager