We would like to inform you that CRONSEE Thematic Session will be held on November 4th 2010. in Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, organized by Institution of Ombudsman for Children of Republic of Srpska, supported by Save the Children Norway, with the topic "The priorities of the Institutions of Ombudsmen for Children in the protection of the rights of the child from sexual abuse and exploitation".

Conclusions from the 5th Regular Annual Conference of the Ombudsman for Children of South East Europe (CRONSEE) organized by Ombudsman for Children of Republic of Srpska and Save the Children Norway held in Banja Luka, 19 - 21. 05. 2010.

“CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTECTION FROM SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION – Did we do enough to protect them?”

Participants of the Conference, representatives of The Ombudsman institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Republic of Srpska/B&H, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia and Province of Vojvodina/Serbia have agreed that:
For strengthening the system of the protection of children and their rights and interests prerequisites are quality laws that will be recognized by international standards and that will make accountable all subjects of protection in all departments, and which, in practice, will be applied literally.
Immediately should be signed and then ratified, by all CRONSEE member states, which have not yet done, the Convention VE from 2007 on protection of children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse because it requires additional protection of children, actually upgrades of the legislative framework that will identify all risks and all consequences of these acts.

Additional protection of children requires following:

1. Limitations for criminal prosecution for crimes committed against the child must be prescribed by law in a way that limitation starts from the moment child becomes of legal age. In this way children will be given the opportunity after becoming of legal age, when they overcome fear and shame, and regardless of the position of their parents in such matter to decide on their own on the initiation of proceedings against those who destroyed their childhood and left permanent consequences for their life.
2. A record of the perpetrators of these criminal acts, the database, must be established in order to eliminate any possibility that these persons after serving their punishment be engaged in work with children on any basis.
3. Provided must be a support to children-victims, short-term and long-term, in the physical and psychosocial direction in a manner that the relevant services, agencies and organizations, taking into account the needs and desires of the child, their obligation and responsibility in taking all necessary measures to mitigate the consequences of committed, actually for recovery and reintegration of the child.
   The adoption of minimum standards for shelters for children-victims of sexual exploitation (and violence in general) with the aim of providing comprehensive protection and providing multidisciplinary support for children-victims what should contribute to acceleration of the process of their re-socialization and reintegration into the community.
   There is a need for regular assessment of the accommodation of children - victims of sexual exploitation (or violence in general) in order to ensure that accommodation and treatment of children- victims is in their best interest.
   
4. Informing and educating children about the risks of sexual exploitation, how to recognize, on the right of children to assistance and support must start as early as in preschool education and then proceed continuously through the regular primary and secondary education in a manner that is suitable to their age.
   Informing and educating of all professionals, who work with children, about the risks of sexual exploitation, how to recognize it and on the right of children to assistance and support.
   
5. Childs’ age limit, for voluntary consent to sexual intercourse, should be defined by the law as of 15 or 16 years of age of the child, taking into consideration that children under 14 years of age are at a specific stage of growing up and they are not able to fully understand the seriousness and all the consequences of their decisions .
   
6. Sanctioning policy must respect all seriousness and all consequences of these acts in a way that sanctions for perpetrators be effective, adequate and proportionate to the committed act and that they have preventive function.
   
7. Coordination between different organizations and agencies (services) responsible for protection, prevention and fight against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children - education, health sector, social services, police and judicial authorities - to be established on partnership permanent bases and concrete cooperation in order to protect children from all forms of sexual abuse and exploitation.

Participants of the meeting emphasize the need for parents and all professionals who work with children to seriously pay special attention and understand all the messages sent by children that may be associated with any form of violence against them.