NGO Sistem: Beating of boys in Podgorica an alarm for the entire society, violence among minors on the rise

The non-governmental organization Sistem expressed deep concern over the brutal beating of a fourteen-year-old boy in Podgorica, warning that this case once again raises the issue of child safety and the increase in juvenile violence in Montenegro.

While the competent institutions are expected to determine all the circumstances of the event and identify those responsible, this organization says that society has been facing increasingly frequent cases of peer and juvenile violence for a long time.

"Unfortunately, we only talk about the problem when a child ends up in the hospital, suffers serious injuries, or when a tragedy becomes a public topic," the statement said.

The NGO Sistem assesses that prevention must not remain merely declarative and that children and young people are growing up in an environment in which aggression, humiliation and threats are increasingly present, both in real life and on social networks.

"If we as a society do not react to the first signs of violent behavior, the consequences will become increasingly serious," the NGO warns.

They made a special appeal to parents to be actively involved in the lives of their children, with the message that parenting does not only mean providing basic living conditions, but also monitoring their behavior, society, and online activities.

NGO Sistem also called on schools, social work centers, police, and other competent institutions to strengthen preventive measures and improve mutual cooperation.

"Responding after violence is important, but it is even more important to prevent violence from occurring in the first place," the statement said.

This organization says that every child has the right to grow up safely and receive education without fear, and that the safety of children is the responsibility of the entire society.