The Conference entitled “Lessons learned from the implementation of an integrated model of social protection and inclusion system in Bosnia and Herzegovina – examples from local levels” was held today in Sarajevo. The Conference was organised on the occasion of the end of the fourth phase of the project „Enhancing the Social Protection and Inclusion Systems for Children – SPIS”, which was funded by the EU and implemented by the UNICEF. The key achievements of the SPIS Programme, examples of good practice and modalities of work with local level across BiH, as well as practical tools and protocols on cooperation through concrete experiences of few selected municipalities and cites were presented at the Conference.
The SPIS is a multi-year, interdisciplinary programme of support to the pre-accession process of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the fields of social protection, inclusion and children’s rights. The main target groups were policy makers and professionals involved in the reform of the social protection systems, as well as vulnerable groups of children and their families.
Massimo Mina, Head of the Operations Section for Social Development, Civil Society and Cross-Border Cooperation at the EU Delegation to BiH stated: “The European Union has supported projects in the area of social protection and inclusion of children in BiH since 2008 with aim to help build a system that will ensure adequate social protection of all children and their families. Our assistance to the social sector in BiH aims to support a countrywide, coordinated, harmonised and standardised needs-based approach for the social protection system and to reform the financing of social services.”
The results of the campaign “It’s about ability” jointly conducted by UNICEF, the EU Delegation to BiH and USAID, were also presented at the Conference. The campaign aimed to raise awareness of the general public and to change attitudes and actions towards children with disabilities and their families.
Prizes “Champions of Inclusion” were also awarded to the individuals who contributed to the inclusion of children through their efforts.
“Every child in this country, regardless of where they live, regardless of their background or their social-economic status, has same rights to education, health, social services and a bright future”, said Dr. Ayman Abu Laban, UNICEF Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Representatives of municipalities, social welfare centres, health centres, primary schools, kindergartens, mental health centres, centres for physical rehabilitation, centres for early growth and development, experts in the field of paediatrics, as well as representatives of NGOs dealing with the relevant topic were present at the conference.
The European Union financed the SPIS Programme since 2008 through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) in the total amount of 4.6 million EUR. The Programme was implemented by the leading partner, UNICEF, in cooperation with authorities at all levels in BiH responsible for social protection, health and education issues.
