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Situational Analysis of Children without Parental Care in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Implementation of the Policy for the Protection of Children without Parental Care and Families at Risk of Separation in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006-2016 December 2010. 1 Publisher: Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of FBiH Production: Jordan STUDIO Circulation: 100 The opinions, fi ndings, analysis and conclusions expressed within this situation analysis are entirely those of the authors and should not be attributed in any manner to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to its affi liated organisations, or to the members of its Executive Directors or the countries they represent. 2 Contents Foreword, UNICEF ..........................................................................................................................................................................4 Foreword, Ministry of Labour and Social Aff airs of the Federation of BiH .................................................................5 Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................................................7 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................................9 2. Goals of the Study .....................................................................................................................................................................10 3. Methodology ...............................................................................................................................................................................11 3.1 Participants of the Study .................................................................................................................................................11 3.2 Instruments ........................................................................................................................................................................15 3.3 The Process ........................................................................................................................................................................16 4. Results ...........................................................................................................................................................................................17 4.1 Records of Children Without Parental Care .............................................................................................................18 4.2 Children Separated from their Biological Parents ...............................................................................................20 4.3 Children Placed in Institutions ....................................................................................................................................22 4.4 Family Support Services ................................................................................................................................................24 4.5 Budget for Child Protection .........................................................................................................................................27 4.6 Adopted Children ............................................................................................................................................................30 4.7 Foster Care ..........................................................................................................................................................................31 4.8 Prioritizing placement of children into families....................................................................................................34 4.9 Duration of the Placement ...........................................................................................................................................35 4.10 Children’s Contact with their Biological Families ...............................................................................................36 4.11 Needs Analysis and Care Plans for Children .........................................................................................................37 4.12 Support in becoming Independent ........................................................................................................................38 4.13 Progress of Children in terms of their Psycho-physical Development, Gaining Skills and Knowledge and Building Relations with Family and Community .......................................................39 5. Existing Interventions in the Priority Areas of the Policy ...........................................................................................40 5.1 Monitoring Benefi ciaries within the System for the Legal and Social Protection of Children and Families ................................................................................................................................................40 5.2 Family Support Services ................................................................................................................................................42 5.3 Foster Families as a Form of Care ...............................................................................................................................43 5.4 Alternative Forms of Care .............................................................................................................................................44 6. Children without Parental Care: Situation up until the end of 2009 ......................................................................48 7. Conclusions and Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................51 3 Foreword, UNICEF The situation of children without their primary caregivers has been of growing concern in recent years, as it triggers violations of children rights as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international human rights instruments. In light of this, UNICEF supports countries in their eff orts to ensure the realisation of the core principles of the CRC: non-discrimination, the right to life, survival and development; the right of the child to be heard, the best interests of the child and, in general, children’s right to live in a dignifi ed manner. These principles must be seen as the cornerstone of every activity and intervention that states undertake when it comes to protecting the rights of children who lack parental care. The CRC sets an overall framework for the consideration of the reality of children living without their primary caregivers. It acknowledges that the family is the natural environment for the development and well-being of children, that parents have the primary responsibility for the upbringing of their child and that the child has, as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents. At the same time, it foresees the appropriate use of substitute care in cases where children are deprived of their family environment or if it is in their best interests not to be allowed to remain in that environment and in such a situation. The CRC also anticipates recourse to institutional placement as a measure of last resort. The rights of the child are to be eff ectively safeguarded in all cases and certainly when children are placed in institutions. These include the right to protection from discrimination, neglect and exploitation; the right to develop his or her personality, talents and abilities to their fullest potential and the right to have a say in decisions that aff ect their life, including those related to the conditions of placement. Above all, it is critical to ensure that institutional placement only occurs if and when it is in the best interests of the child and that there is periodic assessment and review of the decision and circumstances relevant to the child’s placement. Through this approach, the Convention provides support for a well-prepared and planned process of developing alternatives to institutionalisation for as many children as possible, a process that is in itself fully respectful of children’s rights and their best interests. This situation analysis was conducted in order to assess the implementation of the “Policy for the Protection of Children without Parental Care and Families at Risk of Separation in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2006-2016”. It highlights the progress and gaps as well as further eff orts that need to be undertaken in order to implement the policy. The report also suggests the adoption of a well defi ned action plan to be followed by corresponding practical changes in order to make a diff erence to the lives of vulnerable children. Florence Bauer UNICEF Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina “UNICEF works to support the capacities of parents and legal guardians as those with rights, duties and primary responsibility for the child, and promotes the role of families as the fundamental group of society and the natural environment for the growth, well-being and happiness of children. UNICEF also pays particular attention to the circumstances of children who lack parental care” (UNICEF Guiding Principles – UNICEF Medium-term Strategic Plan 2006-2009 extended to 2013) 4 Foreword,