The European Union (EU) and UNICEF have broadened an important regional partnership that aims to protect children from violence and better include children with disabilities into society. Since 2011, UNICEF and the EU have been working together with countries currently in the process of joining the EU, such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Turkey. This partnership is now expanding to include Kosovo, Montenegro, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. As of this year, the European Disability Forum (EDF) has joined the partnership. The EU and UNICEF are contributing 5.89 million Euros – of which 5 million Euros come from the EU – for this regional partnership over the next three years, and have pledged to continue strongly advocating for each and every child to be protected from all forms of violence and to be an equal member of society. “We believe that this partnership can make a real difference to the life of children in the region. We rely on UNICEF’s and EDF’s expertise and knowledge to influence policies that have an impact on children who are victims of violence and children with disabilities,” said Johannes Hahn, EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations. “Each case of violence against children is one too many. It places their lives, health, safety, education and future at risk, and can mark them for life. We must speak out against violence and discrimination,” said Marie-Pierre Poirier, Regional Director and Special Coordinator for Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Europe. Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum said it was critical that children with disabilities are included in all actions to tackle violence against children. “This initiative is also very important in that it seeks to build the capacity and the involvement of organizations of persons with disabilities and other members of the civil society,” he said.
