The fight against peer violence cannot be based only on punishments The urgent fight against peer violence cannot be based only on punitive measures, said the Center for Civic Education (CGO), stating that the tightening of the penal policy can be useful as part of a broader strategy, which includes rehabilitation, education and prevention.
Miloš Knežević, development coordinator in the CGO, told the MINA agency that stiffening the penalties can be useful for the most serious cases of peer violence.
"But only as part of a broader strategy that includes rehabilitation, education and prevention," said Knežević.
He pointed out that criminal policy must strike a balance between deterring perpetrators, protecting victims and reducing violence in the long term through a multidisciplinary approach.
"Therefore, stricter punishments can act as an effective deterrent mechanism, which sends a stronger message to potential perpetrators that violence will not and cannot be tolerated," said Knežević.
He pointed out that in this way the repetition of such incidents can be prevented.
According to Knežević, the tightening of criminal policy can increase the sense of security among children, young people and their parents and provide better protection to victims and potential victims of peer violence.
"Finally, tougher penalties can oblige parents and schools to take greater responsibility in preventing violence," said Knežević.
He emphasized that the punishment system should also be aimed at the rehabilitation of the perpetrators.
As Knežević added, if too much punishment is used, it can lead to stigmatization and make the process of reintegration of juvenile offenders into society difficult, and thus it can create additional problems.
"The successful fight against peer violence cannot be based only on punitive measures, although they are important," emphasized Knežević.
He stated that it is necessary to understand the perspective of children and young people who commit violence and to work on changing their attitudes and ways of thinking, so that they understand that violence is not a solution to the problem, but also what negative consequences it produces.
Knežević said that it is necessary to develop a permanent support system for children and young victims of violence, creating a safe and supportive environment, in the family and at school.
As he said, fostering a sense of self-confidence in children and young people is key to their recovery and emotional development.
"Also, parents have an extremely important role in this process - they should be the first to recognize changes in their children's behavior and provide them with appropriate support, in order to help them face challenges," Knežević pointed out.
He added that it is equally important for children and young people to be aware that they can always seek help from adults they trust, be it parents, teachers, or other community members.
Knežević said that adults must listen carefully to children and young people, understand their concerns and provide them with calm, constructive support, instead of exaggerating the problem or minimizing it.
"Through such an approach, children and young people learn how to adequately solve problems without violence," said Knežević.
He believes that the case in Bar, when a student of the "Niko Rolović" high school was stabbed, points to serious shortcomings when it comes to safety in schools.
According to Knežević, that event sends a message that schools are not a safe enough environment for children and opens the need to review control and supervision measures.
He reminded that the findings of the CGO's research on peer violence and juvenile delinquency, which was conducted in June, indicate the huge support of the general public for the introduction of the school policeman institute, where as many as 72 percent of respondents were in favor.
"Violence among young people is a growing and increasingly serious problem in Montenegro. "We have a chronic lack of preventive programs and adequate education on non-violent forms of conflict resolution, so young people increasingly resort to violent solutions, because they lack developed social skills and empathy," said Knežević.
As he said, young people themselves see violence around them, so the research showed that almost 60 percent of them recognize a certain degree of the presence of peer violence in their school or environment.
"These findings point to the most frequent presence of psychological and physical violence, while social and digital violence are followed by violence and, to a lesser extent, sexual violence," said Knežević.
He pointed out that all this is also a reflection of the wider social context.
The increase in aggression among young people, according to Knežević, can be linked to various factors, such as social instability, family problems, lack of support and the negative influence of the media or social networks.
He said that the reaction of the Bar police in the case of violence at the "Niko Rolović" gymnasium is an example of the effective action of the authorities in critical situations.
"The quick arrest of the suspects and coordination with the Higher State Prosecutor's Office indicate the appropriate application of legal procedures, which is crucial for the correct classification of the act as attempted murder," Knežević said.
As he stated, such a classification emphasizes the seriousness of the incident and sends a clear message that serious criminal offenses will be treated with the full attention of judicial authorities, thus achieving a balance between the protection of victims and the administration of justice.
Knežević pointed out that there were reactions from the authorities after the incident in Bar, but that they did not thoroughly deal with the wider problem that the violence reflects.
"Although this case was met with condemnation, there is a lack of a long-term strategy that would include prevention, education and strengthening of the support system, both for children and young people who suffer violence, as well as for the perpetrators", stated Knežević.
He pointed out that politicians must take care of their communication in the public space, because often their statements, arguments and public discussions are full of divisions, intolerance and speeches that further polarize society and encourage aggression.
"Such rhetoric contributes to the creation of a climate of intolerance and increasingly frequent hate speech, which also has a negative impact on young people," said Knežević.
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