Šćekić emphasises need for tangible support for children with autism in social inclusion efforts

Deputy Prime Minister for Demography and Youth and President of the Council for the Rights of the Child Dragoslav Šćekić convened a thematic session of the Council dedicated to understanding and addressing the issues faced by children with autism and their families.

Šćekić emphasised the importance of understanding the problems and needs of children with autism and providing support to them and their families to ensure their meaningful inclusion in society.

As the world marks World Autism Awareness Day, efforts are being made to understand the challenges faced by families of children with autism spectrum disorder. However, it is essential for this to be an ongoing process, providing support and understanding to individuals with autism every day of the year. Alongside acceptance, systematic support is necessary, and it is our duty to provide it.

Participants engaged in discussions and agreed that only through joint efforts can quality inclusion of children and persons with disabilities be achieved. They recognised overlapping issues across various sectors, from education to the operation of daily centres, as well as the shortage of skilled personnel, emphasising the importance of interdepartmental cooperation to address identified problems.

In addition to the regular Council members, the session was attended by experts from various fields who provided insights and guidance on the matter. Representatives from UNICEF presented an analysis of the multisectoral response to the needs of children with developmental disabilities.

Šćekić announced plans for monitoring key areas crucial for the social inclusion process of children with autism, as well as other forms of participation, with the aim of ensuring an appropriate approach. He also mentioned that the next Council session will open a discussion on this topic.