Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

Announcement by the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs regarding the Human Rights Watch report published on 8 June under the title “My Dream is to Leave Here” – Children with Disabilities in Serbian Institutions

Regarding the Human Rights Watch report published today under the title “My Dream is to Leave Here” – Children with Disabilities in Serbian Institutions, the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs wishes to reiterate that the Republic of Serbia is already implementing the process of deinstitutionalization and support to families of children with development disabilities. During the past two years the state invested in social protection institutions primarily to increase the level of service, improving the quality of life of the beneficiaries and to attain standards prescribed for obtaining licences, not with the goal of expanding existing accommodation capacities.

The Ministry of Labour allocated nearly 1.5 billion dinars since 2014 for the reconstruction (not expansion) of institutions in the social protection system.

At the same time, the state issued competitions twice every year stimulating the establishment of new, and supporting existing social protection services under the competence of local self-governments. The Decree on Dedicated Transfers was adopted in March this year, securing funds for the development of social protection services in accordance with the needs of citizens in those local self-governments with development levels below the national average. Dedicated transfers by means of the Decree served to transfer 400 million dinars this year for the development of social protection services to 122 local self-governments, and the planned funds will be increased for each subsequent year.

The Ministry, by way of the Sector for Persons with Disabilities, is also directing over 300 million dinars through competitions for associations for persons with disabilities, frequently appearing as local providers of social protection services.

Furthermore, other than three institutions housing children, youth and adults, but in separate pavilions, the HRW claim that children and adults reside in the same space, therefore leaving children under risk of abuse and violence, is unfounded.

The control of healthcare and issuing of medication therapy for beneficiaries of accommodation is under the competence of the Ministry of Health. In order to improve this segment of protection, the Ministry of Labour improved its cooperation with the healthcare and educational systems, in order to enable more beneficiaries to be encompassed by the educational process.

The Ministry of Labour recalls that over 6,000 children have been placed in foster families, and merely around 670 in the 17 institutions (there were 1,265 in institutions in 2010).

Based on a detailed analysis of the staff and material resources of social protection institutions for the accommodation of children and the need for the development of services at the local level, the Draft Plan of Transformation of Children’s Institutions was prepared. The institutions will, according to the Plan, provide accommodation services with decreased capacities, through small dormitory communities and social-healthcare services. The Ministry will continue to insist on individual work with children in institutions, in accordance with their needs and capacities, and a greater inclusion into community activities.

Children with development disabilities, according to the Law on Social Protection, have the right to an allowance for other people’s care and assistance. The new legal solution will provide children with development difficulties and disabilities with an increase in the child allowance of 50%. Parents of children with development difficulties or disabilities have the right to reimbursement of earnings up to the fifth year of life of the child, for caring for a child.

All institutions for the accommodation of beneficiaries must adhere to the provisions of the Rulebook on Actions Prohibited for Employees in Social Protection, and are obliged to notify the Ministry immediately and without delay on all circumstances endangering the health or safety of beneficiaries of accommodation.

A significant number of beneficiaries in adult institutions were declared legally incompetent by court, thereby being prevented to make decisions of importance for their health and life. The social protection system started applying functional assessment scales related to the assessment of beneficiary functionality and the degree of support they require, opening the possibility for procedures for returning revoked legal competence in parts or entirely to be initiated before the courts.

The Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs is dedicated to the ongoing procedure of deinstitutionalization. In the meantime, the Ministry endeavours to maximize the quality and dignity of life of those residing in social protection institutions, as well as to increase the number of community services.

Source: www.minrzs.gov.rs