Montenegrin citizens, 76 percent of them, believe that the current sharpening of divisions in Montenegro and hate speech have a bad effect on the mental health of young people, or on their willingness to accept differences, according to a survey by the Ipsos agency.
Data from a national representative survey, which was conducted last month, and which were presented today by young UNICEF reporters, show that 86 percent of Montenegrin citizens believe that politicians influence the attitudes of young people with their statements.
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Antonije Pušić, at the celebration of the 75th birthday of the United Nations (UN) agency for children's rights, said that diversity is the wealth of Montenegro and that dialogue is today's courage and heroism.
He said that tolerance is necessary and that it is the bottom line that must not be crossed.
Tolerance, as he said, is the greatest civilizational achievement.
"As a modern society, we learn to understand differences and actually accept them as normal and desirable, because today this is an elementary proof of civilization and good upbringing," Pušić pointed out.
As reported by UNICEF, he stated that understanding others, resolving misunderstandings through peaceful means and dialogue represent today's ethics and morality.
"Today, Montenegro is a society in which different people live, who have different attitudes, commitments, and identities. And that's nice and something to look forward to. After all, it would be endlessly boring if we were all the same," said Pušić.
He said that the forcing of national and religious identities in the public has recently been noticed and that through the abuse of freedom of speech, hate speech is often heard, which poisons society and children.
Pušić called on children and young people not to fall for the tricks of politicians, who have been sticking to the same formula for two thousand years - "Divide and rule".
"As long as certain politicians, in their medieval desire to rule us and our lives, count us in public statements and insist on who belongs to which religion, nation, while they scold us and teach us to look at each other with suspicion and mistrust, we will not be emancipated as citizens", said Pušić.
He, as reported, proposed that national identities find a place in the public through folk dances and traditional music ceremonies, exhibitions of beautiful national costumes from these areas, phenomenal cuisine and different recipes, that is, through diverse culture.
That diverse culture, as he said, does not compete with what is whose and what is better, but celebrates all differences as the wealth of humanity and Montenegro.
"We are building such a society in which the basic, initial premise is that all of us citizens of Montenegro are okay with all our identities, whatever they may be. So, I'm okay, you're okay, he or she is okay," said Pušić.
Young UNICEF reporters thanked Pušić for his speech, stating that they hope that he will inspire all citizens, children and young people to build a better society in Montenegro, the homeland of everyone, regardless of their opinions and identities.
"Our message is that there is a place for all of us in Montenegro and that there will always be if you ask the children and youth of Montenegro. It is a country where we want to grow up and grow old - a country that respects differences as wealth, a country with a culture of dialogue", said the young reporter Jana Kostić.
The demands of the young people of Montenegro, which were heard at the celebration of the 75th birthday of UNICEF, are better education and health services, more culture, sports and useful media content for children and young people, less online and offline violence.
"As well as the acceptance of diversity as our wealth, equal rights and opportunities for girls and boys, children with developmental disabilities and children of minorities, a better standard of living, more playgrounds, parks and a cleaner environment," the statement said.
UNICEF said that the film "My Life" was shown during the festive program.
"The film was made by young reporters with their peers throughout Montenegro, during the last two months, in order to hear from them what are the key challenges that young people face today and what is it that they would like to tell the Government and all other competent institutions, the media , to the non-governmental sector, to citizens," the announcement says.
The celebration of UNICEF's 75th birthday at the Montenegrin National Theater was joined by the students of the "Andre Navara" Music School and the "Vasa Pavić" and "Princess Xenija" ballet schools and made it unique through music and dance.
Bonus video:
