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Description
Children''s rights in Croatia are well prescribed but they are not realized to a sufficient extent. This especially applies to the rights of children in a disadvantaged position, such as children without adequate parental care, with behavioural problems, victims of violence, with disabilities or difficulties, in sensitive family situations, at risk of poverty and social exclusion. Associations that provide social services to vulnerable groups often do not have enough capacity to monitor public policies and advocate for children''s rights.
Through the project, a network of 10 associations from 5 counties for the protection of children''s rights will be formed. The network will analyse and monitor the scope of the policy for children with a focus on reducing poverty and social exclusion and preventing violence by conducting research on the needs of children and parents, analysing the selected scope of the policy and presenting the results to relevant institutions and to the general public (by conducting public campaigns). Vulnerable groups (children and parents) will participate in empowerment workshops through which they will be informed about their rights. Informative and educational leaflets will be created and distributed. Results will be accessibility to stakeholders.
The partners contribute through their own expertise, which bring the added value of the project: Brave Telephone (public recognition), SOS Children''s Village Croatia (advocacy), Ardura (direct work and the community perspective), Children first (networking and strengthening the capacity of experts) and SOS Children''s Village Norway (expertise in monitoring of the public policies)
As a final result, it is expected that the associations gathered in the Network will improve cooperation, exchange experiences, strengthen their advocacy and organizational capacities, which will better contribute to the advocacy for the realization of the rights of children from vulnerable groups and their families.
Summary of project results
The project "Children wellbeing and rights cooperation network" aimed to address the insufficient realization of children''s fundamental rights, particularly for children in vulnerable situations. It also focused on the limited capacities of civil society organizations (CSOs) that provide services to vulnerable groups and understand the challenges they face, in order to enhance their engagement in monitoring public policies and advocating for children''s rights.
While children''s rights, outlined in key documents like the Convention on the Rights of the Child, are integrated into Croatia''s strategic frameworks and legal system, protection for children in vulnerable situations, such as those without proper parental care, children with disabilities, victims of violence, or those at risk of poverty and social exclusion, remains inadequate. Despite the legal framework, children in these circumstances still face violence, exclusion, and discrimination. According to a 2022 report from the Ombudsperson for Children, critical issues include child poverty, violence against children, lack of support for mental health, and insufficient protection for children without parental care.
The project sought to improve the protection of children''s rights by strengthening the cooperation, analytical, advocacy, and organizational capacities of CSOs. These organizations were united in an informal network aimed at protecting children''s rights. It also intended to establish transparent monitoring of public policies affecting children, thereby providing clear and credible findings to support better protection efforts. Additionally, the project aimed to empower vulnerable children and their families by including them in research on their needs, informing them about their rights, and running a public campaign to raise community awareness.
The project sought to cover five counties, fostering collaboration between experienced and less experienced CSOs, and involved a Norwegian partner with expertise in monitoring public policies related to children''s rights. The project’s results were expected to create a long-term impact, strengthening the civil sector''s efforts to protect children''s rights even after the project’s completion.
The project was structured around three main activity areas: building a Network of Child Rights Organizations, analyzing and monitoring public policies, and empowering vulnerable groups.
The first activity involved creating a Network of Child Rights Organizations. To start, the project team identified 47 organizations across seven counties in Croatia that work with children. These organizations were invited to join the network based on specific criteria. After online meetings and phone discussions, 18 organizations from five counties agreed to participate. A face-to-face workshop was then held to share experiences and plan collaboration. The network’s activities were evaluated, leading to a clear plan for future work. A notable outcome was a meeting with SOS Children’s Village Norway, which helped in discussing the project’s implementation and the role of the Norwegian partner. As a result, a network of 18 organizations was formed, a collaboration plan was created, and the network’s activities were assessed.
The second activity focused on public policy analysis and monitoring. This began with research to understand the needs of vulnerable groups, such as children without proper parental care or those facing violence or disabilities. This involved conducting six focus groups and interviews with 30 children, 30 family members, and 23 professionals. The data collected was analyzed to produce a report on these needs. At the same time, public policy documents were reviewed to set up a monitoring plan. Network members received training on policy analysis, and a detailed monitoring plan was created. Data was collected and analyzed, leading to a report and policy brief with recommendations for improving advisory services for disadvantaged children. The Norwegian partner’s expertise was valuable in this process. The findings and recommendations were shared with key stakeholders and the public through a round table discussion and online platforms, with the project manager also participating in media interviews.
The third activity aimed to empower vulnerable groups, particularly children and their families. This involved raising awareness about children’s rights and encouraging active community participation. An educational leaflet was created and distributed to network members, and a public campaign highlighted the importance of timely support. Five workshops were organized for 62 participants (38 children, 24 parents, and 3 volunteers), providing educational and informational support.
Organizational development was another key focus. Network members received training to enhance their skills in policy analysis, public communication, fundraising, and experience sharing. This included two-day and one-day workshops on policy analysis, three supervisory workshops, and support in report writing. Online training sessions were also held to improve communication skills and fundraising strategies. A fundraising plan was developed, and ongoing support was provided. Regular exchanges of knowledge and feedback showed that the support and capacity-building efforts were well-received.
The project made significant strides in supporting children’s rights and needs through a series of impactful activities and outcomes.
For NGOs focused on children, the project successfully established a Network of Child Rights Protection Organizations. This Network includes 18 organizations from five counties: Zagreb City, Šibenik-Knin, Brod-Posavina, Osijek-Baranja, and Primorje-Gorski Kotar. These organizations were selected based on their active involvement with children and their dedication to advocating for and protecting children’s rights. As part of the Network, these NGOs shared experiences, built their organizational capacities, and worked together on analyzing and monitoring public policies related to providing advisory services for children in disadvantaged situations. They conducted in-depth interviews with 23 experts and used advanced analysis tools like NVivo to enhance their skills.
The Network also made a significant public impact by producing a detailed report and policy summary. These documents were shared with key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Health, and the City of Zagreb. This led to productive meetings with these stakeholders, fostering ongoing collaboration to ensure high-quality and timely services for children in vulnerable situations. The findings from this analysis will continue to support advocacy efforts and were even proposed as a topic for a children’s council meeting.
In terms of public engagement, the project’s campaign was very successful. It reached over 180,000 parents on Facebook, more than 130,000 on Google, and around 69,000 teenagers on Snapchat. The campaign, along with five workshops on children''s rights (instead of the planned four), engaged 65 participants and increased awareness about children’s rights and public policies. Informative flyers were distributed to encourage parents and children to seek timely and expert support when needed.
For professionals in social care, education, and the judiciary, the project provided valuable insights through interviews and presentations. This helped these experts understand and contribute to the analysis of public policies. The project also raised awareness among the general public and key stakeholders about the importance of providing timely, quality advisory services for children in vulnerable situations.
Decision-makers at the national level gained access to a thorough analysis of public policies related to advisory services for children in disadvantaged situations. The project facilitated important exchanges of information and enhanced collaboration with these decision-makers, leading to continued support for the project’s goals and successful funding applications.
Summary of bilateral results
The bilateral partnership with SOS Children''s Village Norway greatly enriched the project through the exchange of experiences and knowledge in advocacy and organizational networking. The Norwegian partner provided valuable insights and guidance, which were crucial for the project''s activities. One notable outcome of this collaboration was the involvement of network members in this year''s parliamentary elections, an initiative inspired by the Norwegian partner''s experience.Although the partner''s role was primarily consultative and informational, their involvement significantly expanded the network''s knowledge base and contributed to its advocacy efforts. SOS Children''s Village Croatia continues to collaborate with its Norwegian partner, and the project has opened the door for other organizations to engage in this partnership, strengthening bilateral relations.While there are no specific plans at the moment to continue this collaboration, there is optimism that if new opportunities arise, the partnership will continue successfully.