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| "Backing our strategy with children" was the participatory aspect of the strategy process of SOS Children's Villages - Photo: SOS Archives |
On 9 September, Barbara Lill-Rastern of SOS-Kinderdorf International and Marko Cingic, a young person from Bosnia-Herzegovina who participated in the project, were asked to present the project in Sweden at a European conference on the rights of the child.
The conference was organised during Sweden's chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE) and was hosted by Minister for Health and Social. Its aim was to forge a common strategy for Europe on child rights 2009-2011, under the heading "Protection, provision and participation for children in Europe".
The conference was opened by Her Majesty Queen Sylvia, who also gave her support to the CoE's campaign against the corporal punishment of children. She welcomed the children and youth participating and Marko was even able to exchange some words with her on "Listening to Children".
During his speech, which contributed to the conference's thematic area of meaningful and sustainable child participation, Marko captivated the audience explaining how he experienced the process and how valuable it was for him to see their words in the SOS-Kinderdorf International Strategy, saying "We even recognised our words in documents we read! That was the moment we realised how smart and important we are and that we took part and influenced really important and serious strategic planning process!" When asked what he learned from the process, Marko responded stating "We learned that our ideas and thoughts should be spoken out loud more often so that we are understood by adults. Sometimes games bring out important conclusions. We are aware that we can be involved and responsible for our future."
The conference in Stockholm was not only a chance for Marko and SOS-Kinderdorf International to present the project, but it was also an occasion to strengthen cooperation with the CoE. This will be extremely important in the upcoming years, as one of the priorities of the CoE within its 2009-2011 Strategy is vulnerable children, in particular children without parental care, and the need to support children living in families, to prevent placement. This year, SOS-Kinderdorf International and the CoE will jointly work on a child-friendly publication on the rights of children in alternative care and in December 2008, SOS-Kinderdorf International will organise a seminar on youth participation in alternative care, that will take place in the European Youth Centre of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.