Vuković: Brutal beating of boy is an alarm that violence among young people is becoming a systemic problem

The brutal beating of a fourteen-year-old boy in Podgorica, which resulted in serious physical injuries and hospitalization, is yet another alarming proof that violence among young people in Montenegro can no longer be viewed as an isolated incident, but as a serious and systemic social problem, Milena Vuković, Vice President of the Civic Movement URA and Member of Parliament of Montenegro, announced today.

Vuković states that we are witnessing a worrying trend in which peer violence is spreading endemically, while institutional reactions generally come only after the consequences become dramatic.

Therefore, according to her, it is high time for the state to show a much more serious and decisive approach to preventing violence among children and youth.

"We call on the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, school administrations and all competent institutions to urgently increase preventive activities, improve cooperation with parents and professional services, in order to prevent incidents of violence and increase the sense of security among students," Vuković stated.

Every child, she said, must have the right to grow up without fear of violence.

"Child protection should not be a topic we only talk about after tragedies and serious injuries, but a permanent obligation of the entire society. We wish the injured boy a speedy recovery, and we provide his family with full support in these difficult times," concluded Vuković.