Organized and hosted by SOS Children’s Villages Bosnia and Herzegovina, within the two-day working meeting of the Platform for Cooperation of Women and Men Parliamentarians in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina “The Voice of Children without Parental Care”, held in Neum from 17 to 19 May 2026, Dr. Mirela Badurina participated as a speaker at the panel dedicated to the psychological, health and social needs of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties and system responses.
These meetings, organized by SOS Children’s Villages Bosnia and Herzegovina, hold particular importance in the context of advocacy and the development of systemic solutions for children without parental care, including the advancement of legal frameworks in the areas of foster care and child protection.
Alongside Dr. Badurina, the panel presentation was also delivered by Prim. MSc Vesna Horvat, specialist in neuropsychiatry and subspecialist in child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy at the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo.
The presentations and discussions addressed important issues related to children’s and adolescents’ mental health, the challenges faced by families and professionals, the need for early intervention, interdisciplinary and multisectoral collaboration, as well as the importance of developing an accessible, connected and developmentally sensitive support system for children, young people and families, in line with contemporary European standards and the protection needs of children and families in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The presentation also highlighted experiences from MHPSS and UNICEF partnership projects implemented in cooperation with the relevant ministries in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the example of the development of the Interdisciplinary Therapeutic Centre for the Protection of Children, Youth and Families within BHIDAPA, as a model of support for children, families and foster families through cooperation between different sectors and professionals.
The long-standing cooperation between BHIDAPA and SOS Children’s Villages Bosnia and Herzegovina was also presented through individual and group psychotherapy work, supervision support for professionals, and the development of interdisciplinary support models for children, young people and families within the community. It was further emphasized that professional educational activities and the development of educational facilities continue to evolve within the premises of SOS Children’s Village Sarajevo, as an example of a shared commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment for children, young people and professionals.
Through its educational programmes, research and professional work, as well as projects implemented in partnership with UNICEF, the relevant ministries of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and regional, European and overseas scientific and professional organizations, BHIDAPA continuously develops scientific and professional education models for professionals working with children, young people, families and communities, aligned with the highest European standards of competence for psychotherapists and helping professionals providing psychotherapeutic, mental health and psychosocial support within the community.
One of the key conclusions of the panel emphasized the need to develop an accessible, connected and developmentally sensitive support system for children, young people and families, alongside the transition from fragmented and project-limited responses towards a long-term sustainable and systemically organized model of support and professional education.
The discussion also emphasized the need to finalize the Law on Psychological Practice and adopt the Law on Psychotherapy Practice, whose professional and regulatory framework continues to be developed within the Union of Psychotherapy Associations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SPUuBiH), as well as the importance of supporting the development of models for education, professional training and lifelong learning for professionals working with children, young people and families.
BHIDAPA extends its sincere appreciation to SOS Children’s Villages Bosnia and Herzegovina for the trust, invitation and opportunity for joint work and dialogue, as well as to all panelists and participants for their active participation, exchange of experiences and constructive recommendations aimed at strengthening the support system for children and families.
