Tightening the sanctions in relation to children who are perpetrators of criminal acts is not a solution. Instead, support should be provided to the families of children with maladjusted behavior, in order to prevent some things and so that we don't even get to the point of talking about children's criminal responsibility.
That's what she ordered, among other things Kristina Mihailović from the Association "Parents" today at the conference "The fight against violence against children - mapping the current situation in Montenegro", where the activities planned through the project of the same name were presented.
"When violence happens, we talk about punishments. We should focus on the period before that," she said.
The project, which is planned to be implemented over 16 months, is implemented by the Association "Parents" in partnership with the Children's Home "Mladost" in Bijela.
CEO Marela Savić she said that violence is ubiquitous, but that Montenegro is not an exception in relation to the modern world. She also said that there is a lot of talk about violence, but there is no solution.
"The approach to the problem is also questionable, to start with admitting that the problem exists. The next step is to ask ourselves what our approach is and whether it is adequate," she said.
As she added, forms of violence are increasingly brutal, especially peer violence, in the family, which induces further forms of violence.
"Home in Bijela is a source of information when it comes to violence. More than 90 percent of our children come from families where they were exposed to the worst forms of abuse, neglect and abuse... Family is by definition the safest place, but for our users, family is everything, just not that," said Savić.
According to her, it cannot be said that the legislation is not good, but that the question is what is on the ground and how much it all helps to solve the problem.
"I am not in the background of thinking that penal policy should be put in the foreground, children are just children, the atmosphere in which they live is the one that we adults have created, we must start from us and ask ourselves what kind of atmosphere in society we create for our children, what kind is our discussion, whether there is violence in it, primarily verbal," said Savić.
According to her, the context in which today's children grow up should also be taken into account, that the digital world is their reality.
"Our parents had different mechanisms, the context of the time was different, that's why those mechanisms, whatever we think about them, were successful, with all their flaws. Now we are dealing with generations that grow up surrounded by digital technologies, it is a moment in civilization, we are part of that world and our children are part of that generation, and we have to find a way to approach them and adapt communication to their understanding of the world," said Savić.
It is necessary, as she added, to create an environment in which violence will be prevented.
"If we get to the point of thinking about sanctions, we almost admit defeat," said the director of the "Mladost" Children's Home.
Defeat, according to Kristina Mihailović, is not an option and must not be allowed.
"If we accept defeat, then we haven't done enough to make children behave differently, when violence happens, we can't understand that the essence of the problem and the solution lies in us," she said.
Amela Kovačević from the Association "Parents" said that the general goal of the project is to improve the well-being of the Montenegrin community, through the introduction of a new social service, especially aimed at families of children with maladjusted behavior, families of children who have experienced violence, in order to become more capable of influencing and changing behavior.
"Specifically, we want to improve the support system for families of children with maladjusted behavior, in order to encourage changes in behavioral habits... To create a family support service in all municipalities in Montenegro, but also to create a licensed training program for social workers, in the area education and social protection," she said.
As she added, the plan is to establish a center for support and help for families and children, and three parenting programs will be organized for parents of children with maladjusted behavior, as well as those that could influence the reduction of violence against children in Montenegro, in Podgorica, Nikšić, Tivat and Bijelo Polje.
The work of the SOS parent line and the SOS children's line will be intensified, and the plan is to create and license training for professional workers in the field of education, for quality work and communication between teachers, parents, and children.
Bonus video:
