Serbian Progressive Party MP Vladimir Đukanović stated in an author's text for the Politika newspaper published on December 23 that primary education is mandatory, so if parents prevent a child from attending primary school, the state must react and provide the child with primary education.
"If I, God forbid, am a bad parent, as is my wife, and we mistreat children, put them in bad living conditions, it is the state that has the right to take away our parental rights over our children and to take care of their future lives . As he can do to any parent," Đukanović wrote.
According to him, it's the same if anyone else denies children primary school and attendance - the state is obliged to intervene and ensure that for the children, and punish those who do not want to fulfill that obligation or prevent it.
"Until the age of 18, when you become an adult, the state is obliged to fully take care of you, as a third parent." It's not rare that he bears responsibility for the stupid things you do, especially if, God forbid, you don't have parents or guardians," Djukanović added.
Haters of order who don't want children
He stated that "those who hate order, state, family, tradition, those who do not intend to have a family" can "spit on him from morning to night".
"I don't care." I will not change my position. I think it is absolutely correct, because certainly the Lord himself who gave us life, the country of our ancestors and finally the parents who brought us into the world are our true owners," said Đukanović.
Before this text was published, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, when asked to comment on Đukanović's statement that children up to the age of 18 are the property of the state, stated that Đukanović made a "big mistake."
He recommended the President of the Progressive Party, Miloš Vučević, to criticize him for what he said and point out to him the need to concentrate when he says something.
A statement dangerous to society
Vladan Jovanović from the Center for Social Work "Solidarnost" Kragujevac tells "Vreme" that employees in the social protection system condemn this way of declaring and commenting on children's rights in accordance with everything that is happening in the country.
"It's dangerous to express yourself like this. It is an understatement to say that this is an inadequate way of expression for state representatives and officials. We can all be worried and scared about the direction everything is going," says Jovanović.
It is especially inadmissible, he adds, to call on professional institutions such as Centers for Social Work to undertake actions for their competence under such allegations.
"Our competence is exactly the opposite, to direct society to the fact that children are the concern of parents first of all, and only then of society and the state, that their rights and obligations are fulfilled in an appropriate manner." This statement is dangerous both for society and for our profession", says Jovanović.
Đukanović's statement was also condemned by the commissioner for the protection of equality, Brankica Janković, saying that it was absolutely unfounded, dangerous and absolutely reprehensible. Janković added that all other challenges to children's right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly are also very worrying.
The state is there when it squeaks
Religious analyst Draško Đenović tells "Vreme" that he also disagrees with the claim that children are anyone's property, except God's.
However, he adds, Đukanović's statement was perhaps clumsily worded and even more clumsily defended, and overemphasized in the media due to the political situation in the country.
"Definitely, parents have much more rights over their children than the state has." Children are a gift from God, I believe that we are all owned by God, and that the state is an instrument when something squeaks," says Đenović.
