Zagreb - Parliamentary groups on Wednesday supported a report by the Children's Ombudswoman for 2016 and 2017 with lawmakers emphasising the importance of protecting children's rights.
MPs of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the GLAS party expressed hope that the Ombudman's Office will retain its independence and autonomy in the future.
In 2017, 2,502 new cases were opened, and most of the complaints in 2017 were related to exercising parental rights, education rights' violations and protecting children against violence or neglect, Children's Ombudswoman Helenca Pirnat Dragičević said in parliament presenting the report.
Furthermore, in 2017 there were frequent cases of violation of children's health rights with a large number of complaints referring to parents rejecting to vaccinate their children.
"In order to advance and improve the status and rights of children in Croatia, it is essential to involve all institutions and associations that deal with children and all of us who can in their own way, contribute to resolving existing problems," Pirnat Dragičević said.
Lawmakers upheld a proposal to appoint two deputy Ombudswomen for Children - Marija Gabelica Šupljika and Ivana Buljan Ajelić and approved a new Rule Book for the Children's Ombudsman's Office.