The state must allocate more money for services that provide assistance to victims of violence, said the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović.
On the eve of the International Day of Combating Violence Against Women, he received representatives of non-governmental organizations active in that area.
"Given the numerous cases of violence against women in Montenegro in the past period, it is important to point out the importance of this problem, which is taking on serious proportions. As a state and society, we must give a strong and clear answer that violence against women is unacceptable and provide support to the victims in a much better way," said Milatović.
He said that something that is becoming a growing social problem "does not have an adequate institutional response."
"The government must allocate significantly more funds for the operation of shelters, SOS lines and psychological counseling centers, in order to strengthen the overall system of victim protection and empower women to report violence. "Also, all links in the system of protection from the police, centers for social work, prosecutor's offices, courts, should be additionally strengthened and educated in this area," said Milatović.
The president's cabinet announced that representatives of the NGO sector in the field of combating violence against women thanked Milatović for the opportunity to share their experiences and the challenges they face.
"They pointed out that they are numerous, starting from the sustainability of services for help and support to victims, for which the competent Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare allocates insufficient funds, through the licensing process, to the application of the Criminal Code, which does not provide for urgency in handling, protective measures during the procedure and effective electronic surveillance system," the announcement reads.
At the meeting, the question of legal recognition of femicide as a separate criminal offense was opened, bearing in mind the data that this year alone, four murders took place in which the victims were women who reported suffering domestic violence.
Milatović thanked the representatives of the NGO sector for the perseverance, dedication and efforts they have been putting in over the years to "illuminate this important topic" and help the victims.
The meeting with Milatović was attended by representatives of the Center for Women's Rights, Safe Women's Houses, SOS Podgorica, SOS Nikšić, SOS Ulcinj, NGO LEA Bar and NGO Sistem Podgorica.
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