Twenty-five years ago, the world adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. By adopting this Convention, humanity, clearly and unambiguously, defined - for the first time ever - the inalienable rights of the youngest citizens in the world: the rights to life and health, survival and development, protection, education and equal opportunities regardless of gender, language, ethnic, religious, social or any other affiliation. The Convention has established that children, just like adults, have inalienable rights to human dignity, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and the right to preserve their own identity.

The rights of the child are the basis of freedom, justice and peace in the world. The future of every country depends on respecting children's rights. Who else do we build roads for if not for our children? For whom do we build schools and gymnasiums? Can we have any economic growth if we allow ourselves to neglect the most important thing of all - the nurturing of our offspring?

When Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 35 years ago, she was asked what could be done to promote world peace. Her answer was simple: "Go home and love your family". The mother of the 20th century, born in Skopje in Macedonia, was well aware of the primary and sacred duty of the parent to the child.

The situation of children's rights is inextricably linked to the living conditions of their families, the backbone of any society. As a cradle and as a beacon of true values that continuously radiates security, warmth and light of life, the family must be nurtured, encouraged and strengthened. The family is a shelter from life's storms and a protector against ever-present challenges. Happy people grow up and live in good families. In a family, parents give their children unconditional love and manage to prepare them for all the challenges they will face in life.

In the Republic of Macedonia, as well as in many other places around the world, the family is being negatively affected by a number of factors. Among these are socio-economic challenges and the loss of traditional family values under the influence of our modern pace of life and ever-increasing obligations that do not allow parents to spend enough time together with children.

Therefore, the family should prevail in the protection and support of children. It is necessary for the family to remain a major pillar of society and for the state to help further strengthen its role. We must continue striving for our institutions to provide the family special protection. The State must be and must remain the strongest ally of the family, of parents and of children. We must work to reduce the social risks to which the family - and thus the children - are exposed. Every family should be part of the big family, the state.

While being aware that nothing can replace the family, the state still performs the role of a family through its institutions for children who lack any parental care. Dedicated to solidarity and aware of the need for greater integration of children with disabilities in educational and recreational programmes, the state must pay ever more attention to pursue opportunities for the good of these children.

It is necessary to ensure that all families enjoy decent living conditions and help their children with educational and developmental support. We must not allow for violations of children's rights to be ignored or, even worse, to be seen as something normal and acceptable. Therefore, we should dedicate more time to providing support to children from underprivileged families. It is important to note that we do have the solutions here in front of us. Dedicated to reform, the Republic of Macedonia is obtaining solid results through its existing institutions and systems for protecting and improving children's lives. It is necessary for our positive experiences to be shared with families and communities where children remain a vulnerable category.

Partnerships between government institutions, UNICEF, specialized NGOs and the media are very important and provide us with essential information about the status of children. We welcome their activism in raising this issue before political institutions and their advocacy of the rights and needs of children. We agree that children need someone to speak up on their behalf and to help us apply positive international experiences and achievements in our country.

Children learn from adults. What they receive, they reflect. It is necessary for children in the Republic of Macedonia to grow up in the spirit of the Macedonian model of coexistence and respect for diversity. We are building trust both institutionally and non-institutionally through education, sports, culture, art, competitions, concerts, exhibitions and joint projects. All these efforts are necessary to raise healthy generations who will carry out the future inclusive development of the society in the spirit of unity, cooperation and friendship, regardless of ethnic, religious or social origin. In this way we are building a culture of respect for children's rights and investing in the future of the Republic of Macedonia.

Dr. Gjorge Ivanov