Pristina, October 21, 2023 – Ombudsperson, Naim Qelaj participated in a conference regarding the education of children’s rights and protection from violence.

This conference was held to promote the work of over 100,000 students, about 2,000 teachers and other actors who were involved in the children’s rights education Project named “Our Rights”.

In his address, the Ombudsperson emphasized that the universal rights of children are a fundamental and necessary part of the international and national legal framework, which guarantee that all children enjoy a safe, healthy and educational environment.

He said that education is a powerful tool to teach children about their rights and responsibilities, to understand when their rights are violated and how to seek help and support in case of any violation.

“Every child has the right to live without fear and violence. It is the responsibility of institutions, teachers and parents to ensure that children are safe in their learning environments,” said Qelaj.

The Ombudsperson added that it is our collective responsibility to work together to ensure that the rights of every child are not just words on paper, but a reality in their lives.

This project aims to educate young people about their rights, increase public awareness of children’s rights and combat violence against children.

For this year, the project was developed in the region of Gjakova, which includes Gjakova, Deçan and Junik. Since 2006, the “Our Rights” project has included 792 schools, 173 trainers have been prepared, and over 1,600 teachers have been trained, and 101,300 students between the ages of 9 and 14 have been included.

This project was financed by the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Pristina, while the project was implemented by the Institute for the Promotion of Education (IPEDU).