The Montenegrin Women's Lobby (CŽL) announced today that it submitted a letter to the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Vesna Bratić, as an "initiative for the introduction of sex education in the Montenegrin education system, not religious education and returning children and youth to the Middle Ages".
"These days, like a few months ago, the proposal to introduce religious education into the education system of Montenegro is being updated again. Until now, there have been no obstacles or restrictions for all children and young people to attend by their own choice or in consultation with their parents, independently of the regular school program one of the numerous religious schools and educate and acquire knowledge about religion. Confession of religion is a human right, but also a personal, intimate matter and the individual's own decision, which no one has the right to abuse for any purpose, especially when it comes to children and young adolescents." , it is emphasized in the letter to CŽL signed by the executive director Aida Petrović.
In the letter, it is added that Bratić is addressing CŽL with a proposal that they believe the minister will carefully consider and that "will take into account all the good and positive aspects related to the prevention, education and preservation of the health of children and young people by introducing secular education as part of the curriculum".
"The seriousness of the prevalence of sexual abuse is also indicated by the cases that occur in Montenegrin society, but the majority remain unreported, so the victim of sexual abuse cannot be helped, and the perpetrators of these heinous acts remain unpunished. Unfortunately, there are no statistical data or a database of abusers in our country. who sexually abuse children and young people, but the multi-year campaign of the Council of Europe "One out of five" points to the devastating data that one out of five children has experienced sexual abuse", the memo reads.
It is also stated that a United Nations human rights expert recently visited Montenegro, who, as written in the letter, strongly recommended that Montenegro must take decisive steps to strengthen the protection system and more effectively combat and respond to sexual abuse of children.
"On the basis of two decades of practical work with victims of violence and sexual abuse, we believe that the introduction of sexual education within the curriculum, along with previous systemic solutions, would contribute to more efficient and professional education and thus greater protection of children and young people from sexual abuse and violence. Knowledge and information represent a prerequisite for children and young people to be aware of their personal safety, to recognize sexual abuse in a timely manner, ask for help and support and point out the abuser so that he can be prosecuted and sanctioned," the letter reads.
CŽL also says that "sexual education in the educational system is a necessity and due to the insufficient knowledge of children and young people about the basic facts related to: knowing when to start having sexual relations, the use of contraceptives and protection against unwanted pregnancy, preservation of reproductive health, protection from sexually transmitted diseases diseases, sexual violence, which are mainly accompanied by addiction diseases - drug addiction and alcoholism".
"Children and young people, especially girls, are also exposed to the dangers of sexual abuse and violence that comes from the Internet, to which even the parents themselves are often unable to adequately respond if the child confides in them and points out this form of violence. All international research shows that systemic the introduction of sexual education, but also the development of counseling centers for young people and children, necessary for preventive action, normal growth and development, and preservation of emotional, psychological, and reproductive health," the memo reads.
It is stated that "in addition to the inclusion of the educational system through the introduction of sexual education as a model of support, help and protection of young people from sexual abuse and violence, the active role of parents in cooperation with teaching staff, the media and the entire social community is also understood".
"Even though we live in the 21st century, misconceptions about sex education still exist, which is characteristic of conservative and patriarchal individuals, groups and society as a whole. One of the many prejudices that accompany the introduction of sex education into the educational process is that the education of children and young people will about sexuality result in their early sexual activity. Experiences from other European countries show that young people who have had sex education, on average, become sexually active later with the application of knowledge and information acquired through sex education programs. The lowest rate of underage pregnancies was achieved in countries that have designed and comprehensive programs for the protection of the sexual and reproductive health of young people through the education system," the memo says.
CŽL also says that they hope that Bratić will "recognize the importance and necessity of protecting the health and life of children and young people through the education system, and that as Minister of Education, she will respond positively to the initiative of CŽL, by introducing sexual education as a mandatory part of the curriculum as soon as possible." education of young people and children, starting from the elementary school level until the end of high school".
"Religious education belongs to religious persons to be engaged in it in sacred buildings and religious schools, apart from the education system, which should not be returned to the Middle Ages, but improved by prevention, education and protection of young people and children, so that they are adequately aware of the possibility that some form of violence will happen to them. of sexual violence and abuse," the letter concludes.
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