Exclusively for Portal Falanga,Interview:Dragi Zmijanac, Founder&Director of the First hildren!

s Em"assy in the #orld $egjashi Interview: Dragi Zmijanac % Founder and Director of the First hildren!s Em"assy in the #orld $egajshi Pu"lished in: $acedonia &uthor: Falanga Date: Fe"ruary '(, )*'+ Exclusively for Portal Falanga, Dragi Zmijanac $&, Founder and Director of the First hildren!s Em"assy in the #orld $egjashi ,ranslated "y Zorana &ndonovic '- #hen was the First $acedonia. hildren!s Em"assy in the #orld $egjashi esta"lished in

/ ,he First hildren0s Em"assy in the #orld $egjashi was esta"lished on &1ril )2, '22) in 34o1je as first registered international non/1rofit non/1arty and non/governmental organi5ation for 1rotection of the rights of the children in $acedonia,he idea originated even in '22' in the small 1lace of $egjashi located "etween 6osnia and 7er5egovina, 3er"ia and roatia, a 1lace where the Islam, atholic and 8rthodox religion met- ,his small 1laced of $egjashi was 1ronounced as land of the children- In order to "e en em"assy certain conditions must "e met, and those are to have territory and 1eo1le- #e had the territory- &round 9* *** m) were given- ,he First hildren!s Em"assy in the #orld $egjashi should have "een "uilt there- #e also said that the children are the most numerous 1eo1le in the world regardless there s4in colour, social status, and educational status and that this em"assy would 1rotect their interests- ,hen the war in the former :ugoslavia "egan- ,he em"assy which should have "een "uilt in the small 1lace of $egjashi dislocated in 3arajevo on the initiative of a college of mine and wife ;ordana- 3he contacted with 1erson who gave the idea Dush4o ,omic and he gave his consent for formation of a consulate in <e1u"lic of $acedonia- I was very close to the esta"lishment of the first children em"assy until I reali5ed that this is one "ig world movement that a lot of hel1 is needed, and we were in a 4ey 1eriod where children were stro4e "y the war and the em"assy still wasn!t registered- &le4sandar $icic called for the

$acedonian citi5ens to foster refugee children from roatia and 6osnia and 7er5egovina on :utel- &s a coordinator of the esta"lishment of the consulate general, ;ordana a11eared on $,= and on &1ril '), '22) she su11orted the call for hel1 from 3arajevo and the evacuation of the children from 6osnia and 7er5egovina started- Paler $acedonia 1rovided a 1lace and the first refugees arrived- ,hey were welcomed "y many 1u"lic 1ersons li4e Dragan $ijal4ovs4i, Esma <edje1ova, >ole &ngelovs4i- Every"ody joined in fostering of the refugees and that!s how we started- #e started non/formal- ,he registration was on &1ril )2 and after few years of intensive care of the refugees? we started on 1rojects referring to the children in $acedonia- #e as4 the creator of the idea to raise the consulate general to en em"assy level and we "ecame two 1arenting organi5ations, we develo1ed our own di1lomatic core, we have our own consulates general, honoura"le am"assadors, honoura"le vice/am"assadors, we have our own di1lomatic 1a1ers throughout the world- &t the "eginning the $inistry of Interior De1artment of 6order $anagement and Foreigners 1rovided us with di1lomatic documents in accordance with the statute of the First hildren0s Em"assy &rticle '* and ''- #e are "uilding our own di1lomatic networ4 throughout the world)- #hat does the hildren!s Em"assy $egjashi stand for. / $egjashi stands for res1ecting of the children 1ersonality through 1rotection of the children rights, re1resenting of the children interests and through enrichment of the life with contents which ma4e the childhood safe and creative- It strengthens the @;8 children rights movement develo1ing the volunteer a11roach in the wor4 and ta4es care for the im1lementation of the hildren0s <ights onvention,he hildren!s Em"assy $E;A&37I reali5es its activity and tas4s acting in the following s1heres: Psycho/social, legal and other ty1es of su11ort of children who need hel1 with s1ecial accent on children from marginali5ed grou1s? monitoring of the children rights and 1romotion of the children!s right in <e1u"lic of $acedonia and wider? ta4ing initiatives for 1romotion of the legal regulations for 1rotection of children in <e1u"lic of $acedonia and their im1lementation as well as activities for 1eace "uilding and non/violent resolving of conflictsIn 1erforming its mission the hildren!s Em"assy $E;A&37I has close colla"oration with the com1etent state authorities, "odies and institutions, other civil organi5ation as well as the media in the 1ast 1eriod- $ost common is the coo1eration with the 3ocial #or4 entres, 8m"udsman, media, the 6roadcasting ounsel--,he hildren Em"assy $E;A&37I is a mem"er and coo1erates actively with more international children!s right organi5ation such as: ;lo"al am1aign for Education, ,he Euro1ean Federation for 3treet hildren, ;lo"al $arch against hild Ba"our, hild 7el1line International, Euro1ean hildren0s @etwor4? EC<8 7IBD? 7uman <ights 7ouse @etwor4? hild <ights Information @etwor4? C@I,E< for Intercultural &ction,he hildren Em"assy $E;A&37I is founder and mem"er of several national coalitions of civil organi5ations: $acedonian oalition of @;8s for monitoring of the

rights of children Dnon/formal coalitionE? ivil $acedonian Platform? &ll for Fair ,rails oalition and $acedonia without Discrimination9- Do the children re1ort some ty1es of violence. Is there any num"er for contact with the $egjashi team. / ,he children re1ort violence very rarely and if they do, those are exce1tional cases when they do not have and do not 4now where to turn to- ,hey most often re1ort family violence? all other re1orts are in terms of information regarding the rights of the children as well as information where they can call if some of their rights are violated- ,he contact can "e reali5ed on the following manners: 383 1hone for children and youngsters *(** ' )))), land line 1hone of the First hildren!s Em"assy $egjashi )+FG/9'F, via our e/mail sosHchildrensem"assu-org-m4 and infoHchildrensem"assy-org-m4, the Face"oo4 1age of the First hildren!s Em"assy $egjashi, via mail and "y coming in the 1remises of the First hildren!s Em"assy $egjashi+- #hen tal4ing a"out the children, do you thin4 that the children are a"used for 1olitical 1ur1oses in $acedonia. If there are such findings, what $egjashi does in such cases. / ,he inclusion of children in a 1olitical cam1aign is in contrary to the hildren!s <ights onvention according to which the children should "e 1rotected from all 4inds of a"uses and mani1ulations- #ith the Declaration on Protection of the hild from Political $ani1ulation and &"use ado1ted "y the &ssem"ly of the <e1u"lic of $acedonia in '22', the Baw on hildren!s Protection as well as the Baw on Elementary and 3econdary Education the 1olitical organi5ation, acting and a"use of the children are for"iddenFor some longer 1eriod of time for now we notice that the children and youngsters are used in interests of certain 1olitical 1arties, 1arty gatherings or 1rotests, where the violence intensity escalates and where the safety and lives of the children is "rought into Iuestion without as4ing for res1onsi"ilities from the 1olitical 1artieshildren waving 1olitical flags as used are 1arty decor without someone to ta4e res1onsi"ility or sanctions against those who violate the children!s rights and don!t follow the legal acts- & series of 1u"lic documents and laws are violated where it is clear that any 1olitical a"use of the children for 1olitical 1ur1oses is for"idden- ,his is also visi"le during this cam1aign- #e have recorded this as a"use of the children for 1olitical goals during these local elections- ,he First hildren!s Em"assy in the #orld $egjashi encourages the citi5ens to re1orts this 4ind of case, to hel1 in the efforts this 1ractice to "e judged and eliminated,he ex1erience shows that the children and youngsters do not thin4 enough in what they engage, there is no enough 1arental control over the 1olitical engagement of the youngsters and a"out the 1ossi"le conseIuences, they do not thin4 over a"out what 4ind of causes and goal they stand for, for whose interests they "ring their lives in danger,hey seem li4e they do not 4now what they are 1rotesting against or are they agitate for some 1olitical 1arty- ,hey are easy to mani1ulate with and get to go to 1arty gatherings

or 1rotests, es1ecially through the social networ4s- ,his is a very fast way to create critical mass on the "asis of hate, nationalism and chauvinism- ,his 1oisons the youngsters and I would say that the 1olitical 1arties do not care a"out anything else "ut their own 1ositions and interest, without ta4ing any res1onsi"ility a"out the events and hide "ehind them successfully,hey are instrument in the hands of the 1olitical 1arties- $any of the youngsters are convinced that they 4now what they stand for, for what 4ind of goals they "ring their lives in dangers without having de"ates, forums with the other side that had different arguments and convictions- ;enerally s1ea4ing, those who too4 their children to 1rotest 4nowing that the children are easy to mani1ulate with, there are not res1onsi"le from 1olitical 1oint of view and are 1laying with the destiny of the children and youngsters not ta4ing account that their tomorrow children might "e victims of organi5ed grou1 of young 1eo1le thought "y certain 1olitical 1arties which only ta4e care for their own goals and interests- ,he 1olitical 1arties are governed "y the slogan Jthe means justify the goalK, not ta4ing account that the encouraging of a child, i-e- someone whose life de1ends is very ris4y, es1ecially in such ris4y situations and ris4y "ehaviours where there is revanchism and reaction "y the 1olice which might end with assault or arrest of the involved children and youngsters during the 1rotests or 1arty meetings and meetingsG- 7ow many cases there are registered in )*'9 and what 4ind of violence is mostly re1orted. / ,here are )L2 contacts registered via the 383 1hone in )*'9, with which we have communicated 2F2 times afterwards- ,he additional communication is to inform the caller what 4ind of measures are ta4en, what are the agreements with the com1etent institutions as well as their re1orts to us a"out all new changes in the re1orted case- ,he total num"er of registered callers in )*'9 is )L2- 8nly ') children of them had courage to re1ort violence or violation of their rights8n the "asis of the o"tained information a"out 1ossi"le violation of the children!s rights and which are structured according the num"er of children covered in these cases, we are tal4ing a"out a total of +*( children with sus1icion for 1ossi"le violation of their rights- ,he data show that the 1overty is one of the largest 1ro"lems with which the children and their families are facing- ,his data show to the fact that the financial and social standing of the families is significantly difficult and reIuests for "igger attention and su11ort "y the com1etent institutions in order any other additional violation of the children0s rights to "e 1revented&s most characteristic data which can "e singled out a"out children covered with the re1orted cases, for 1ossi"le violation of their rights, registered in the hildren!s Em"assy $egjashi are: Poverty % L2 children from the total num"er of children are 1otential victims who live on the edge of the 1overty in su"standard conditions- Family violence % F) children from the total num"er of children % 1otential victims were un1rotected and ex1osed to violence in their family-

Divorce 1rocedures % G' children were 1otential victims of the rights of children u1on divorce 1rocedures- 3us1icion for 1olitical a"use of children % there is sus1icion for eventual 1olitical a"use at +* children of the total num"er of 1otential child victims- 7ousing 1ro"lem % 9L children of the total num"er of registered cases have 1ro"lem with housing- 3us1icion for sexual a"use % 2 children were victims of sexual a"use or there is sus1icion for sexual a"use "y a close one or 1erson familiar with the child victim- F- ,here are changes in the riminal ode which ena"le chemical castration of the 1aedo1hiles- #hat are those changes. / 8ur long/year lo""ing for more rigorous 1unishment of 1aedo1hiles and chemical castration as 1reventive measure in reduction of the recidivism finally 1aid off- ,he mem"ers of the $acedonian Parliament voted our 1ro1osals for amendments of the riminal ode with ena"le chemical castration of the 1aedo1hiles- ,he mem"ers of the Parliament deserve 1raises for this- #e are satisfied with the ado1ted amendments- From the three 1ro1osals given "y the First hildren!s Em"assy in the #orld $egjashi, two are acce1ted? the one for chemical castration of 1aedo1hiles u1on their exiting from 1rison and increasing of the sentences for 1aedo1hiles- ,han4s to our lo""ing, the amendments were im1lemented in the riminal ode and it is envisaged that for a sexual crime of the child under the age of '+, as a "asic form of 1aedo1hilia, instead of ( years 1rison sentence, the sentence to "e increased to ') years at least- For sexual crimes of a child under the age of '+ with severe "ody injuries, death or other severe conseIuence now 'G years to life im1risonment is envisagedL- :ou 1ro1osed the free 1aedo1hiles wear electronic "racelets, "ut this 1ro1osal wasn!t acce1ted and it is not 1art of the law- #hat would have "een the results if your 1ro1osal was acce1ted and why do you thin4 wasn!t acce1ted. / ,he only 1ro1osal which wasn0t acce1ted was the mandatory wear of electronic "racelets as 1reventive measure against 1aedo1hiles- #e don!t 4now the reasons why this 1reventive measure wasn!t acce1ted "ecause it would have 1rovided the 1ossi"ility of fast reaction "y the 1olice in case of a 1aedo1hile to "e near school or a 1lace where certain child could "ecome his victim- Even though there is entral <egistry for onvicted Paedo1hiles, were "elieve that "y wearing electronic "racelets the 1olice would have had "igger insight in their movement and this would have 1revented new assault or ra1e of a child(- 7ow many children on annual "asis are victims of sexual a"use in $acedonia and are this 4ind of a"uses re1orted "y the children. / #e have information that during )*'9 there are 2 children with sus1icion of sexual a"use "y a close one or 1erson familiar to the child- ,he children never re1ort sexual violence- ,hese 4ind of re1orts usually are done "y an adult D1arentMguardian or relative to the childE- ,he children who are victims of sexual a"use are often scared to re1ort that

and they are feeling guilty for what it is ha11ening to them thin4ing that they influenced and encouraged the 1er1etrator to a"use them2- 3ince the day of o1ening of $egjashi how many children used the 383 1hone. / &ccording to the date during the )* years of wor4, from the total num"er of callings the 383 1hone for children and youngsters *(** ' )))) was mostly used "y the children, LF22 or L*N, while 99*F or 9*N "y adults D1arentsMguardians, grandmothers, grandfathers, neigh"ours---E as4ing for hel1 and su11ort/ Data regarding the age of this children callers #hen tal4ing a"out the age of the children caller, the "iggest num"ers of children are aged '9 to '(, i-e- ()N or F9)2, while children u1 to age of ') are 1resent with '(N or '9L*From this data we can conclude that during the )* years of existence of the 383 1hone for children and youngsters, the largest num"er of callings is made "y children- 6ut we want to em1hasise that during the 1ast years we record drastic reduce of callings "y children- &t the "egging, with the o1ening of the 383 1hone for children and youngsters, the children re1orted 1ro"lems related to their 1eriod of growth and develo1ment such as: deviated communication with contem1oraries, 1arents, 1ersonal and love 1ro"lems, 1ro"lems with self/confidence- During the recent years the re1orted 1ro"lems are in terms of violence against children D1hysical, 1sychological, sexualE, related with violation of children0s rights when divorce 1rocedure, 1overty 1ro"lems, exclusion from the education 1rocess, a"use of child la"our, internet a"use etc#e thin4 that one of the reasons for reduction of the num"er of calling "y children it!s the nature of the 1ro"lems with which the children are facing and that the nature reIuires the callings to "e "y adults8ther reason for which we have tal4ed numerous times is that the children are afraid to re1ort violence "ecause they do not have enough 4nowledge of how the institutions can hel1 them- ,his is why they choose to "e stay Iuite&re there enough daily centres for addicts and centres for children victims of 1aedo1hiles or sexual a"use where they can go after the a"use. / It is not a ta"oo in the world, nor in Euro1e, that children ta4e drugs- 6ut there is no "igger sin for one society when the children cannot "e 1rovided with medical 1rotectionIn $acedonia there are no health institution where the children addicts are treated, and the num"er of children using o1iates increases- #e can see children using drugs every in the centre of the 34o1je- ,he children are "arely '* years old, and they already sniff glue "efore the surrounding 1eo1le- It is scaring how the institutions can watch these 1oor children and not to ta4e any measures,he First hildren0s Em"assy in the #orld $egjashi in order to act a11ro1riately with the child victim of sexual a"use, 1aedo1hilia and incest 1ro1oses o1ening of entres for hildren =ictims of 3exual &"use, es1ecially ta4ing care of the children in the first L)

hours, strengthening with foster families in other cities where there are no conditions for o1ening of such centresDuring the 1rocedure for 1roving guilt of the 1er1etrator, the facing of the child with the 1er1etrator should not "e allowed "ecause that causes additional 1sychological trauma, distrust in the efficiency and effectiveness of the 1rotection system- Even though the Baw on $inors Austice envisages the child to 1rovide ) to maximum 9 statements, we 1ro1ose one statement given in the s1eciali5ed screen room in a 1resence of a judge, social wor4er, 1sychologist, 1edagogue and 1olice ins1ector in civil clothing- ,he video argumentation will "e used in the further course of the 1rocedure for 1roving guilt,ranslated "y Zorana &ndonovic