The Government of Serbia has initiated the development of a new National strategy and Action plan for the protection of children from violence in the next period. Creating a new strategic document needs to be supported by experts’ knowledge and their recommendations. For that purpose, SeConS prepared comprehensive study on drivers and determinants of violence against children. The study was based on research which combines critical literature review and mapping interventions that have been implemented to prevent and protect children from violence in Serbia. The objectives of the research were twofold:
• To provide comprehensive insights in drivers and determinants of various forms of violence against children;
• To systematically map interventions that have been implemented to address the problems of violence against children, in order to provide recommendations for improvement of the existing, as well as establishing additional mechanisms for the protection of children from violence.
The analysis included various forms of violence against children: physical, psychological/emotional and sexual violence, negligence, exploitation, child marriages and exposure to different risks of structural violence. Research team worked under the mentoring support of international consultants from University of Zurich, and it was supported by the technical experts group consisting of professionals from academia, institutions and practical work in the field of violence against children.
This participative approach – also known as Research to Policy and Practice Process – R3P – combined study on drivers and determinants of violence against children with existing policies and institutional mechanisms, with aim to map best practices, identify weaknesses of the prevention and protection system and improve existing mechanisms for children protection. In accordance with that approach, numerous stakeholders at local and national level were involved in findings validation and they took part in a consultation process on recommendations for further improvement of prevention and protection system.