The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and Children’s Rights Working Group Chair Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic opened the public hearing on Adolescent Health Care in Light of New Legal Provisions.

Adolescence is the period between youth and adulthood when one gains personal, sexual and professional identity. It is the period when young people group up, even through crisis, when experts and role models play an important part. Achieving health in adolescents is a complex, dynamic process in which responsibility for a successful result is shared by state policy in the field, and individuals, family, educational and social institutions. As stated in the National Programme of Health Care of Women, Children and Youth – “care is achieved through cooperation between the health sector, education and social welfare”, stated Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic.

Since 2002, Serbia has made considerable progress in the integration of the national system of care for children and youth and their health, as well as youth rights protection. Some new specific solutions opened up new avenues. National policy was improved to include numerous international and national documents in the field, important strategies, programmes and plans were adopted and children’s and adolescents’ health actions were organised.

Multi-sector cooperation was promoted and activities have been improved particularly on the local level. The role of health care systems was strengthened by passing a series of strategic documents. The environment was created conducive to demonstrating knowledge and skills for positive interaction with children and adolescents and their families, as well as sensitivity to vulnerable and highly vulnerable adolescents with risky behaviour. Conditions have been met to recognise the rights of adolescents and youth in the health care system, as well as patients’ rights. Djukic-Dejanovic stated that, by this, she primarily means confidentiality and privacy in the health care system, as well as the right of adolescents and youth to be heard and take part in the decision-making process relating to their life and health in accordance with their developmental capacities.

The participants of the public hearing organised by the Children’s Rights Working Group were also addressed by Minister of Health Prof. Dr Zoran Stankovic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Health Dr Elizabet Paunovic, as well as representatives of UNICEF, Serbian health care workers, non-governmental and international organisations.