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18th of March 2008, in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, police officers arrested a group of 11 years old minors, and brought them in for informational conversations. The group of 11 children was taken without informing the parents of these children, the Director of the school nor any of the teachers or the psychologist in the school. This is our reaction that we sent to the media, concerning this problem:

The First Children's Embassy in the World - Megjashi and Global March Against Child Labour  demands from Mr. Idjet Memeti, Ombudsman of Republic of Macedonia to investigate the case of harsh violation of children's rights by the police when 11 children at the age of 11 from the Primary School "Vlado Tasevski" were brought to the Police Station Karposh-Skopje. We demand also from the Minister of  Interior Ms. Gordana Jankulovska to punish the police officers that made big offence in bringing, calling and hearing the children that are not criminally responsible (their parents or guardians are responsible for them) in the absence, without agreement or knowledge of their parents, guardians or defender-lawyer. 

The First Children's Embassy in the World points out the violation of the following Articles of the

Convention on the Rights of the Child:

Article 3, Paragraph 1
In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.

States Parties shall ensure that:
 (b) No child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily. The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time;

(c) Every child deprived of liberty shall be treated with humanity and respect for the inherent dignity of the human person, and in a manner, which takes into account the needs of persons of his or her age. In particular, every child deprived of liberty shall be separated from adults unless it is considered in the child's best interest not to do so and shall have the right to maintain contact with his or her family through correspondence and visits, save in exceptional circumstances;

(d) Every child deprived of his or her liberty shall have the right to prompt access to legal and other appropriate assistance, as well as the right to challenge the legality of the deprivation of his or her liberty before a court or other competent, independent and impartial authority, and to a prompt decision on any such action.

According to the Constitution and the Legislation in Macedonia:

"Informational investigation"
According to the decision made by the Constitutional Court of Republic of Macedonia and the new Law for Criminal Procedure a person can be brought to a police station by force only when there is a court decision and if it is obvious that it is avoiding to call in for the invitation in which it was stated the possibility of using force in case the person does not come nor justify the absence. The police can demand information from the citizens and to call them in the police station but they are not obligated to go there nor to answer the questions.

Global March Against Child Labour call for action:

-The Superior officer to prepare preposition for initiating procedure for firing the police officers for disrupting the working discipline against the police officers,

-The police officers to be transferred;

-To fill up the annual program for training the police officers with themes and contents concerning the acts of the police towards children, minors and handicapped persons.

The First Children’s Embassy in the World- Megjashi started a campaign against the violence over children in Macedonia 

Stirred by the last cases of almost to death beaten children, as well as by the devastating increase of number of calls regarding violence (18,6%  in 2006 while only 2% in 2000y.) on our SOS helpline for children and youth 0800 1 2222 (toll-free), we have decided to start a campaign for raising the public awareness for the need of child protection from every form of violence, also to appeal the public to report the violence. Divided in different location around the centre of Skopje, starting form the beginning of February, 15 billboards with different messages can be seen: “Have you hugged your child today?” and "STOP! To the violence against children”.

For more information contact:
First Children's Embassy in the World MEGJASHI
Str. Kosta Novakovic 22 a, 1000 Skopje
Republic of Macedonia
Phone: ++389 02 2465 316
Fax:      ++389 02 2463 900
E-mail: info@childrensembassy.org.mk
www.childrensembassy.org.mk

 
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