Although the Grand Duchy has improved on various points over the last few years, the “Ombudsman fir Kanner a Jugendlecher” (known as Okaju) told RTL Radio there were still a number of challenges to overcome, including a need for raising awareness on all forms of violence which may have young victims. Three decades since the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Charel Schmit says there is still much for political leaders to catch up on:
“As well as the triple A rating in economics, we should also achieve a triple A for social matters. Some children have more difficult lives and go down certain paths. Here, the State must take responsibility and develop ambitious policies to enshrine the rights of children.”
Prevention is key, says Schmit - for this reason, he supports the introduction of protective concepts in schools, childcare settings, but also for sports and leisure organisations. Another essential element is that of intervention. Here, Schmit pleads for a national help service hotline:
“This would be an immediate point of contact for children and adolescents. We also need immediate support for the victims right from day one, so they can receive support from social services. When young people come into contact with the police and the courts, they should have access to a lawyer specialising in children’s rights.”
Schmit is also calling for further improvement in paediatric care and for children to have access to the same quality of medical care throughout the nation.
