Jarić Kovačević and Kostadinova Discussed Program for Child Protection from Violence
Minister for Family and Demographics Jelena Jarić Kovačević and UNICEF Serbia Country Director Dejana Kostadinova met today regarding the upcoming end of Kostadinova's mandate in Serbia and discussed the current development of the Program for the Prevention and Protection of Children from Violence for the period from 2026 to 2030.
TL;DR
- A Program for the Prevention and Protection of Children from Violence (2026-2030) is being developed in Serbia.
- The program will enter a 20-day public discussion phase after May 28th.
- Serbia is also working on a Family and Demographics Strategy (until 2036) with projections to 2050.
- Initial demographic measures in 2026 show an increase of 490 births compared to the same period last year.
- Discussions included raising the child allowance threshold to support more vulnerable children.
- Serbia is preparing a draft Law on Amendments to the Family Law that would prohibit corporal punishment of children.
- 70 countries worldwide, including neighboring ones, have already banned corporal punishment of children.
- UNICEF continues to support Serbian institutions and communities in protecting children from violence at home, school, and online.
- Dejana Kostadinova's mandate as UNICEF Serbia Director ends in June 2024.