THE FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH OF THE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA IN ITS ENTIRETY:

Dear children,
Dear young parliamentarians,
Dear friends,

It is my great pleasure to be opening today’s Student Parliament session and greet you on behalf of all the MPs and members of the Committee on the Rights of the Child of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. Student parliament sessions are traditionally held in the National Assembly. And today is that day, one of the very special and beautiful days in the Assembly, today you have replaced your school desks with assembly benches, and it is important to hear what you have to say to us from the assembly rostrum.

By doing this, the National Assembly wants to highlight the importance and contribute to the strengthening of the Student Parliament as a form of children's participation in decision-making. The work of the Student Parliament is based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child as the most important document for the planning and realisation of activities during Children's Week.

Today's Student Parliament session will be dedicated to the importance of peer support in exercising children's rights, as well as the importance of children's participation in social life. This is an opportunity for children to share the importance they attach to this topic from their own point of view, to exchange experiences, share the challenges and problems they face every day.

Children have the right to freely express their own opinion and the right to have that opinion taken into account in all matters and activities that concern them. Listening to and appreciating what children have to say, giving children space to express their opinions, taking into account their age and developmental abilities, enabling them to participate in the decision-making process in things that concern them, all of this encourages and insists on the “visibility” of children and young people.

Greater participation of you, young people, entails your greater contribution and influence on society, which increases the understanding and acceptance of your ideas, desires and needs.

Peer support is important for the social and emotional development of children and young people and we must look at it as a two-way process because young people, by providing and accepting peer support, acquire important skills, including greater self-confidence, responsibility, active listening, empathy and communication skills.

Peer support contributes to creating a positive school environment and a stimulating atmosphere, because students who provide peer support are an invaluable support to students who have few or no friends, to students who find themselves in awkward or violent situations and students who have learning difficulties.

It is exactly you, young people, who prefer to talk to your peers about your problems and situations and you are more inclined to listen to their advice and opinions!

In addition to mutual peer support and the promotion of positive behaviour, it is important to talk about whether we understand the problems associated with peer violence, as well as the importance of supporting children from vulnerable groups, all in order to promote a positive climate where differences are accepted and respected. That is why peer support is extremely important in distance learning to provide support in acquiring digital skills and use of various digital technologies, as well as in cases of digital violence.

For a child to fully realise his/her rights, feel good, happy and build a positive image of themselves, the expectations of the environment must correspond with their abilities and capabilities.

We are here to encourage, educate and guide you in providing peer support, to answer your questions, to provide assistance in resolving dilemmas, all with the aim of guiding you, young people, towards positive examples.

I think it is important that we all agree, together at this gathering, that peer support is extremely important for the realisation of children's rights, as well as the participation of young people in social life.

I am exceedingly glad that at today's Student Parliament session, through a debate, you will present your experiences and knowledge about peer support to your peers, and your conclusions and recommendations will make a significant contribution to furthering the support in exercising children's rights.

It is with great pleasure that I officially open this Student Parliament session and I wish you all success and good luck in your efforts!

Thank you and welcome to the National Assembly!