At the session of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Foster Care was discussed and adopted, which made a significant step towards improving the system of care for children without parental care.
The proposed changes ensure uniform access to foster care financing, increase in fees for foster families and strengthening of professional support, which represents an important resource for centers for social work and contributes to the development of a sustainable system of deinstitutionalization.
This important shift is the result of the joint action of numerous actors, including the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the Government of the Federation of BiH, parliamentarians, as well as the SOS Platform “Voice of Children Without Parental Care”. The adoption of the draft law confirmed the determination of the institutions of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to improve the legislative framework in accordance with the best interests of the child.
The organization SOS Children’s Villages in Bosnia and Herzegovina initiated and actively participated in the process of drafting the law in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and parliamentarians of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Manager for advocacy and institutional cooperation of SOS Children’s Villages in BiH, Melika Šahinović, pointed out that the adoption of the draft law represents a strong message from society.
“The adoption of the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Foster Care represents a strong message that children without parental care must remain in the focus of society and that every child should have the right to a family. This step confirms the readiness of institutions to systematically improve foster care and ensure more stable, high-quality and sustainable forms of support for children and foster families,” said Šahinović.
In the coming period, it is planned to continue the activities on passing the law, first of all through the consideration of the draft in the House of Peoples of the FBiH Parliament, the organization of public hearings and further consultations in order to ensure quality solutions and effective implementation of the law after its final adoption.
SOS Children’s Villages say that this process is a continuation of their long-standing activities aimed at improving the system of care for children without parental care, with a clear message that every child deserves stability, support and the opportunity to grow up in a safe family environment. Black Chronicle
