Blerim Shabani, Director of the Department for Social and Family Services Policies, has stated that institutions have taken concrete actions regarding the suspected case of abuse of a 5-year-old child in Lipjan.
At a press conference on the matter, Shabani emphasized that the responsibility for managing such cases falls exclusively on the municipalities, specifically the Centers for Social Work, which operate in each municipality of Kosovo. He added, however, that the children have been placed in a safe environment and are under institutional care, KosovaPress reports.
According to him, the ministry has requested a detailed chronological report from the Center for Social Work on how the case was handled and managed, and has authorized the inspection unit to carry out the relevant assessments.“We have taken several steps, such as professional supervision, and requested a detailed chronological report regarding the handling and management of the children’s case from the Center for Social Work. In line with these competencies, we have also authorized the inspection unit, which operates within the ministry we belong to. What is important to clarify is that the handling and management of the case is an exclusive competence of the municipalities in terms of providing social and family services, specifically the Centers for Social Work. Kosovo has 38 Centers for Social Work, one in each municipality, managed directly by the municipalities,” Shabani stated.
He said that the Ministry of Labor, Family, and Values of the Liberation War has acted in accordance with legal competencies regarding the suspected case of child abuse in Lipjan. He added that he will not provide unconfirmed details until official reports are completed.“At the moment the ministry was informed, in line with our competencies, role, mandate, and authorizations given by primary and secondary legislation, we approved the placement of the children in foster families that have been assessed and approved to provide care for children without parental care. We also authorized the inspection unit, which, based on the Social and Family Services Law, has begun the process of assessing compliance with obligations regarding the management of the case. I would not want to provide speculative information, as that could create doubts for the public, but we are awaiting the chronological report and, of course, the preliminary inspection report regarding the handling of the children’s case,” he said.
Speaking about the current situation, he emphasized that the children are out of danger and receiving the necessary care.
“What I can say at this stage is that the children have been placed in a safe environment and are receiving institutional care in accordance with the responsibilities of all mechanisms tasked with carrying out official duties and obligations. The Ministry of Labor, Family, and Values of the Liberation War has the responsibility, based on its mandate, to draft primary and secondary legislation, programs, standards, policies, and to carry out oversight, but it is not responsible for providing direct services to children and adults who need social and family services. This responsibility lies directly with the Centers for Social Work and the municipalities,” Shabani added.
