INSTITUTION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA of narcotics, feces, urine, garbage, etc ... The investigation in this case which shows how challenging is dealing with these issues is ongoing. 8.4. Protection of children in administrative and court proceedings Processing the individual complaints of citizens in the Department for the Protection of the Rights of the Child, it can be stated that a large number of complaints concern the protection of the rights of the child in court and administrative proceedings. Ombudspersons very often turn to the courts during the investigation process and demand urgent action in civil matters when deciding on the rights of the child, recommending that the courts act in the best interests of the child. Ombudspersons can state that the courts, in most cases, take into account the opinions and recommendations of the Ombudsman and take the highlighted cases as a priority. Unfortunately, in light of the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and family law in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ombudspersons often find violations of children's rights. While processing the cases involving children Ombudspersons primarily call their parents to account, because both parents have a shared responsibility to raise the child 362. On the other hand, the competent authorities have an obligation to assist parents in fulfilling their responsibilities for raising children and ensuring the development of institutions, capacities and services for the protection and care of children. In this part of the Annual Report, Ombudspersons point out to the governments of the Republika Srpska and the Brčko District to necessity of adopting the appropriate amendments to the existing family laws or the legislation on social or child protection to enable regular courts to decide in proceedings initiated on the motion of the parent not having the custody of the child to maintain regular contacts 363. Through their special and annual reports, Ombudspersons continuously point out to the competent bodies at all levels of government, that it is necessary to pay special attention to the category of so-called single parents (single-parent families) in order for them to enjoy special legal protection and any other type of protection necessary, in accordance with the best interests of children, and to make in-depth analysis and realistic assessments for the same purpose (providing assistance to single parents or children) with the aim of establishment and functioning of alimony funds. With regard to alimony, the Family Law of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina stipulates that, when the court finds that parents and other persons obliged to provide maintenance are not able to meet the needs of child support, the guardianship authority is obliged to provide funds for child support from budget funds. According to information available to the Ombudsman, the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina instructed the competent ministries to consider the establishment of an alimony fund and submit a proposal to the Government to resolve this issue 364. Despite the Ombudsman's advocacy efforts, the establishment of alimony funds in the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has not yet taken place. 362 Article 18 of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina courts decide on these issues 364 Ombudspersons of Bosnia and Herzegovina have information that the Government of the Federation of BiH in 2014 instructed the Federal Ministry of Justice, as a proponent and a drafter of the FBiH Family Law, to amend 363 88

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents