When: Friday, 7. November 2008 11:00
To: Friday, 7. November 2008
Where: Skopje, Kosta Novakovic 22a
Host: HRH Skopje, Megjashi
Contact: Dragi Zmijanac
More info: www.childrensembassy.org.mk/

The issue of child abuse in our country is more than serious!!!
The cases of abusing children have become a daily incident!!!
The children are beaten, used, and abused…

The First Children’s Embassy in the World continuously implements activities that are protecting and applying the rights of the children. The Embassy reacts, raises the public awareness, and seeks fairer and stricter punishments against the guilty ones. When we register a case of violence or a case of breaking the children’s rights, we turn to the Ombudsman, the Public prosecutor, the centers for social work, the ministries, the police department and the schools.

The information gathered from our SOS phone line for children and youth (0800 1 2222) shows a rapid growth of child abuse and violence (over 17300 calls in the 15 years). In 2008 from a total of 251 calls concerned with child abuse and violence (including the month of October) the data showed is 32,5%. And in 2007 that percentage was 13,4%.

With an intention to encourage the children, the parents, the neighbors, and the closest ones not to be quiet about any form of violence but to report it, we start with the campaign Notice it, hear it, say it. Subsequently, the intention is to influence the creation of better parenthood and to raise the awareness for the need of support and help for the children. Because of this the campaign’s motto is The parents who beat their children want to hide that.

On the press conference, introductory statements will be made by: Mr.Dragi Zmijanac MA.Sc., Executive Director and Founder of the First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjashi, Mr.Vojislav Stojanovik General Manager of ABA DDB add agency, and Ms.Tatjana Janevska, Coordinator of the project.

The campaign is a part of the international project "Childhood without violence – towards a better system of child protection in Eastern Europe", which in Macedonia was implemented by the First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjashi, in partnership with the Nobody’s Children Foundation and supported by ABA DDB, Akzent Media, Data Pons, Lazov Group, Newspapers Dnevnik, Vest and Vreme.