CRC/C/SRB/CO/1
page 4
14.
The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that the Ombudsman
offices comply with the principles relating to the status and functioning of national
institutions for protection and promotion of human rights (“the Paris Principles”) and take
into account its general comment No. 2 (2002) on the role of independent national human
rights institutions in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child. The
Committee also recommends that:
(a)
The State party adopt the Law on the Ombudsman for the Rights of the
Child;
(b)
If not, the Deputy Ombudsman for children be appointed at the national
level and that the mandates of the existing Ombudsman offices at all three levels of
government include monitoring and promotion of child rights, and that the Ombudsman
offices be provided with the necessary human and financial resources and enhance their
coordination efforts to promote and protect child rights effectively.
Helplines
15.
The Committee notes the existence of a toll-free national child helpline available
24 hours a day from Monday to Saturday, but it is concerned that awareness of its existence
remains low amongst children.
16.
The Committee recommends that the State party expand its support to the helpline
and that a three-digit toll free number be established seven days a week, thereby
facilitating increased awareness of the existence of the helpline amongst children.
Allocation of resources
17.
The Committee is concerned that neither the report of the State party nor its written
replies provide a clear picture of the financial allocations for children in its budgets. The
Committee regrets that the budget allocation to education is one of the lowest in the region
(Europe) at 3.6 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
18.
In the light of articles 2, 3, and 6 of the Convention as well as the recommendations
of the Committee issued following its Day of General Discussion, held on 21 September
2007, on “Resources for the Rights of the Child - Responsibility of States,” the Committee
encourages the State party to pay particular attention to the full implementation of
article 4 of the Convention by prioritizing budgetary allocations which ensure
implementation of the economic, social and cultural rights of children, “to the maximum
extent of available resources and, where needed, within the framework of international
cooperation”. The Committee further encourages the State party to undertake a
comprehensive budget review from a child rights perspective with a view to monitoring
budget allocations for children.
Data collection
19.
The Committee notes the development by the State party of a system of monitoring its
National Action Plan, including through the development, in cooperation with the United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), of Devinfo. The Committee notes, however, that in many