On Monday, 16 October, the Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to BiH, Melvin Asin, addressed the opening of the UNICEF regional conference on social protection for children stressing that children have the right to protection from poverty. “Children are entitled to adequate care, access to good quality health services and education, and participation in their communities,” Asin stressed. He added that poverty makes children very vulnerable to social exclusion and discrimination.

The three-day UNICEF regional conference on social protection for children being held in Sarajevo from 16 to 18 October has brought together high-level decision makers, social protection technical staff and policy influencers to discuss innovation in social protection, exchange experiences and promote cooperation.

“Funding the adequate social protection now is a smart investment decision for a future. Such protection and care is essential to ensuring that children become healthy, educated and empowered adults,” Asin argued. He also called on politicians at all levels of authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to implement the agreed socio-economic package of measures known as the Reform Agenda, which would also create space for proper legislation and adequate resources for social protection of children.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, an estimated 15% of the population live below the poverty line. Children are among the most affected, especially Roma children, children with disabilities or children living in undeveloped rural areas. Since 2008, the European Commission in BiH supported various projects in this field in the amount of 4.6 million Euro, aiming to build systems to ensure adequate social protection of all children and families.