Child Protection Serbia Project #24103

Protection of missing children

by ASTRA - Anti trafficking action (ASTRA - Akcija protiv trgovine ljudima)

Project Report | May 3, 2017
Reacting on the signs of the neglect

By Danijela Nikolic | Counselor in the 116000 number in Serbia

Through European number for missing children 116 000 in Serbia, social welfare center reported a missing girl.

Nina is now 5 years old. Couple of years ago, due to the illness, her mother was placed in a hospital for a longer period of time and after that she gave up on her parental rights, so the child was placed with a cousin. However, after some time social welfare center received a report regarding the child’s neglect. They went to visit a child, and found she was in a bad condition, inadequately dressed and neglected. The apartment of the cousin was dirty and social workers doubted that the child was having regular meals as well. It was also noted that the child is not attending kindergarten even though social welfare center previously insisted that the child should spend more time with her peers and other children in order to develop social skills.

Nina is a beautiful and kind child, very warm and friendly. Her health is very fragile so she needs to have regular doctor check-ups. However, her cousin failed to do that as well, which was another sign of child’s neglect. As soon as social workers left the place, planning to return for a child, a cousin left with her and they could not find her.

That is why they contacted number for missing children, so that the child could be faster located.

ASTRA established contact with the police and prosecutor’s office, but even after a several months of search for a girl, there have not been any improvement.

Recently social welfare center received information regarding the address of a child. All information was once again forwarded to the police and we are hoping that Nina will be found soon. We are hoping that she will be able to start going to kindergarten and to socialize with her peers, to laugh and play and to be safe and sound.

In order to locate the child fast, a prompt and synchronized cooperation of all directly or indirectly involved actors in search for a missing child is needed. However, in practice, some institutions do not recognize the need to cooperate with other actors, whether those are institutions or CSOs.

It is on us to find a solution and approach that will loosen up these strict and tight attitudes and show them that we all have the same goal, which is to find a child safe and sound.

Attachments:

Annual report for 116000 in Serbia (PDF)

1 Attachment

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Feb 3, 2017
Together we can make the difference

By Danijela Nikolic | Counselor on the 116000 line in Serbia

At the beginning of each year, we look back at the last year, to our achievements and lessons we learned in order to make a plan for the following year. So far, the biggest number of calls referred to European number for missing children was in regards to runaways and un-accompanied children. Out of 33 reports that we received in 2016, in 22 cases children were found, while the others are still missing. In 2016 we received the highest number of calls so far, which shows that this number is being recognized by institutions and citizens as a relevant number.

Anyone who works on the SOS line, especially on the line for missing children, knows that those are not just numbers, but stories and human destinies.

In 2 cases a report about possible victim of human trafficking came through European number for missing children 116000 in Serbia where institutions and associates called us to report the missing child who they suspected to be a victim of human trafficking.

In one case, a social worker called us to report the missing of a 15 year old girl, who she suspected could be a victim of human trafficking for the purpose of forced marriage.

In our line of work we learned that stories often start the same: a girl meets a boy, and a boy meets a girl. She thinks she was in love and everything is great at the beginning. Until, it is not anymore…

As the mother of the girl told the social worker, she feared that the family of the boy the girl was with could take her abroad and exploit her there. Mother feared it could happen any day soon, so she urged for the assistance. She did not know the exact address, but she knew in which part of the city they could be.

Social worker suggested that besides contacting the police, she contacts ASTRA as well through line for missing children, which she accepted instantly. In cooperation with social worker, we responded quickly and informed all other institutions in order to find the girl as fast as possible.

The police was informed and local social welfare centre was also involved in order to prevent any possible exploitation. In a matter of a day, the girl was found, safe and sound and she was reunited with her family.

- “Thank you for reacting so promptly and for helping find my daughter. She is fine now. If she left, I fear we would never see her again. I can’t even imagine that”, said the mother when she contacted us.

Finding a child is always a priority and it asks for instant reaction of all relevant actors, institutions and the community in general.

Your support matters to us and it matters to children. We thank you for it.

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Nov 8, 2016
Reporting and cooperation

By Danijela Nikolic | Counselor in the 116000 number in Serbia

Certificate of Accreditation

In the last 4 months European number for missing children 116 000 in Serbia was contacted regarding 4 cases of missing children, two girls and two boys. All cases were solved positive, and the children were found safe and sound.

During this period we heard about Maja, 13-year-old girl. Her mother passed away and her father got married again. He was very violent with his children and wife. Constant fights, domestic violence are something that Maja watched and suffered on a daily basis. At home she was often hungry, and her father found her guilty for everything bad happening to him privately or at work. He insulted her, pulled her hair, beat her. Because of all these problems, she started missing school. Social welfare centre got involved and because of the family violence they placed Maja in a foster family.

One day Maja went out to the grocery and she did not return home. Foster family and the social welfare centre reported her disappearance to the police. Eye-witnesses told that she was in the company of a younger man.

After some time, there was still no progress in the search for Maja, and social worker contacted ASTRA for a support in search for missing girl.

The same moment we received a report we contacted the police with all information we received.

Next day we received call from social worker who contacted us, she said: ''The girl was found! After you contacted the police, they again went to the place where we suspected that the girl was, and this time they found her there. Maja was very afraid, but she was relieved when she saw familiar faces''.

When the representatives of the Centre wanted to check whether their assessment of foster family was bad which led to girl running away, the girl confirmed thatshe felt accepted there. But she added: ''Fear is something that I wanted to escape from. I felt I was not far enough from the one who hurt me the most. I wish no one has to go through what I went through at home, and I do not want it to happen again. I wanted to run away from that fear!''

Maja returned to the foster family, she continued to go to school, she is going to counselling and she is involved in ASTRA program with the aim to strengthen her capacities.

An important segment of our work is the development and promotion of cooperation with all relevant institutions which are included in a search for missing children or other organisations which can assist in that process and give support.

We have so many great ideas for kids like Maja, for children in risk, but we need your help and support for its realization. Help us to become recognized by all citizens, as well as to develop prevention programs and activities for children, parents and citizens in general. Support us and be part of this development!

Leaflet for refugee population

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