Mp S.odontuya Speaks About Legislations on Children's Rights and Protection

Trans. by B.DULGUUN

The following is an interview with Member of Parliament S.Odontuya, who led the working group assigned by the Head of the Standing Committee on Social Policy, Education, Culture and Science for the two bills on children's rights and protection.

Many parents are very interested in the two new laws. Can you tell us about the Law on Children's Rights and Law on Child Protection?

These two legislations have made the basic obligations of organizations and bodies protecting children's rights and their inter-relation more specific. Currently, researchers are doing research on establishing a state inspectorate for the protection of children's rights. Although Mongolia has specialized inspection agencies for inspecting and reporting on production of goods and service quality, it doesn't have state inspectors who ensure that human rights, especially children's rights, are protected. Considering the significance and value of children's rights, we're trying to train inspectors specifically for investigating and reporting on issues concerning children's rights.

The Law on Protection of Children's Rights was adopted in 1996. Mongolia's finally renewed the legislation 20 years later. Our nation is establishing a national system for providing and guaranteeing children's rights by passing the two new laws. We have also created a legal environment for regulating issues related to children's rights, including preventive measures for child abuse and measures to take when a child is abused.

Mongolia has many laws but they aren't strictly followed due to insufficient number of inspection agencies and funding. How will the implementation of the new laws be monitored?

That's a good point. Lawmakers must always take implementation matters into account when passing a law. A total of 20 regulations and standards will need to be passed for executing the Law on Children's Rights and Law on Child Protection. Associated ministries and agencies, as well as the Child and Family Development Center will have to co-develop a special plan.

Our working group is working on financial projections necessary for the implementations of the two laws with assistance from international experts. The legislations will be able to take full effect if 3.2 billion to 3.5 billion MNT from the state budget is allocated for them every year. The financing will have two stages and it will become fixed from 2017 to 2018.

There have been many disturbing cases related to children...