2022-05-23

Public debate: Child Poverty and the 2030 Agenda

SDGs for All Platform

The Center for Democracy Foundation organised the following debate: Child Poverty and the 2030 Agenda on May 23.

The debate included a presentation of the Child Poverty and the 2030 Agenda analysis, drafted by the Associate Prof. Marina Savković, PhD, containing recommendations aiming to contribute to the eradication of child poverty.

The introductory speakers included Prof. Slavica Đukić Dejanović, PhD (Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on the 2030 Agenda), Biljana Mladenović (UNICEF), Jovana Božičković (KOMS), Associate Prof. Marina Savković, PhD (CDF), Jelena Tanasijević, PhD (SOS Children's Villages), Prof. Nevena Vučković-Šahović, PhD (UN Children's Rights Committee member 2003-2009; Child Rights Centre) and Nataša Vučković (CDF).

The debate also brought together the reprsentatives of the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, the Office of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Office of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, National Employment Service Serbia, civil society organizations, researchers, Red Cross, SCTM, social services centres and trade unions.

The discussion highlighted that child poverty impacts those who are most vulnerable in society and produces seriouslong-term effects on the overall development of society.

In addition to strategic and legal frameworks, it is necessary to strengthen institutional capacities, especially at the local level and in particular, social services centres. Furthermore, it is also necessary to intensify public education efforts in order to encourage youth become active participants in social processes

It was concluded that children need to be placed at the centre of efforts to combat poverty, as this is key to reducing poverty numbers over the long run. It is also vital to take into account the multidimensional child poverty perspective and to think about the welfare of all households in which children are being raised.

The public debate was organised as an activity of the Advisory Thematic Group – Eradicating Poverty within the SDGs for ALL Platform.

The “SDGs for All” Platform enables a broad discussion among the Serbia’s non-state actors, including civil society, corporate sector, academic and research community, media and the citizens, on aligning Serbia’s development priorities within the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The “SDGs for All” Platform is supported by the Governments of Switzerland and Germany and implemented by GIZ, within the project “Public Finance Reform – 2030 Agenda”.

Download: Analysis Child Poverty and the 2030 Agenda (in Serbian)