The poverty risk rate for children in Montenegro is significantly above the European average, which is why the amount of the universal child allowance needs to be regularly adjusted to the rising cost of living, the head of the UNICEF Representative Office for Montenegro told "Vijesti". Mike ServadeiThe world is marking Social Justice Day tomorrow, and according to data from the Statistical Office (Monstat) from 2023, the poverty risk rate among children is 27 percent.
"This rate is still high compared to the European Union (EU) average of 19 percent. Poverty is not only a lack of money, but also insufficient access to and/or quality of health, education, social and child protection services. For further progress, all institutions need to work closely together to provide quality services for children," Servadei said.
He points out that the introduction of a universal child allowance for children under 18 in Montenegro has been very useful, but this measure needs to be regularly adjusted to the rising cost of living.
“Determining the appropriate level of the allowance means taking into account the size of the household and the number of children, adjusting the amount of the transfer according to the context such as local prices and earnings, and revising the amount in line with inflation. In addition to the universal child allowance, the system should also take into account the most vulnerable children who need additional support. In this regard, it is essential for Montenegro to provide quality services to children and their families at the national and local levels,” emphasizes Sevardei. In January, during the debate on the Budget Law for 2025, the government rejected an amendment by the Civic Movement URA to increase the amount of the child allowance from 30 to 45 euros, explaining that this would be an additional burden of almost 69,8 million euros for the state annually. Servadei reminds that poverty is not only a lack of money, but also insufficient access to and/or quality of health, education, social and child protection services.
"For further progress, all institutions need to work closely together to provide quality services for children, and UNICEF is ready to assist with data analysis and technical support, especially through the European Child Guarantee, which can be used to more effectively assist vulnerable children, especially those from Roma and Egyptian communities, girls and boys with developmental disabilities, and children without parental care," he said.
Seardei emphasizes that child begging particularly affects girls and boys from the Roma and Egyptian communities, preventing them from enjoying basic rights such as education, healthcare, safety, dignity and a decent standard of living.
“To solve this problem, we must first understand why children beg. The first step towards a solution is not to look the other way. A detailed assessment is necessary to look at both the overall situation and the individual stories of those affected. Only after reliably identifying the specific causes of this phenomenon can Montenegro, based on this data, take adequate systemic measures to support these children and their families. The answers can be very different in the case where the root cause is poverty or cultural attitudes or abuse/neglect/exploitation,” Servadei specifies.
In cases of poverty, he points out, a key step is to combine financial support programs for families with social protection interventions, such as referrals to educational and health services, monitoring of the family environment, etc.
"In cases where the problem is cultural norms or neglect, parenting programs and others that encourage changes in social norms and individual behaviors should be offered. In cases of exploitation, cooperation with the police and the judiciary is necessary. There is no universal approach that would provide one and the same solution for each of these causes. In any case, it is important that all actors are included in the solution, both national and local authorities, as well as the civil sector and local communities," says the head of UNICEF for Montenegro.
Servadei points to another problem when it comes to poverty - child marriages among the Roma and Egyptian populations.
“Reducing child poverty among Roma and Egyptian families is essential for eradicating child marriage. A multi-sectoral intervention, including improved family and community-based mechanisms and social protection benefits for families and children, would be a good strategy for reducing multidimensional poverty in these communities. Stricter laws regulating this issue could also be helpful. Unfortunately, the laws in Montenegro have not yet been amended to raise the minimum age for marriage to 18, despite recommendations from UN monitoring bodies and efforts by the Women’s Caucus in the Parliament of Montenegro,” Servadei concludes.
And health services unavailable in certain areas
Servadei warns that the healthcare system also faces several challenges, especially for children and families in rural and even some urban areas.
“…Where the problem of inaccessibility, but also inaccessibility of health services, is pronounced. The good news is that significant investments in health infrastructure are planned in the coming years, and certain funds have already been allocated for the budget for next year. However, the challenges cannot be overcome with new facilities alone - trained and dedicated health workers are necessary, which are not always easy to provide,” says Servadei.
He believes that two issues require urgent action - the first is the need for better access to quality mental health services for all children and adolescents. "Currently, there is a lack of resources and increasing stigma. The second issue is the dangerously low immunization coverage rates among children, with measles vaccination rates in the second year of life among the lowest in the world.
These problems seriously threaten the health of children in Montenegro. It is time to tackle these challenges and ensure a healthier future for all,” Servadei pointed out, adding that, when it comes to immunization, UNICEF will continue to work with national and local authorities, communities and parents, enabling them to make the best possible decision for children, and “vaccinating a child is precisely such a decision that has no equal in modern medicine.”
“At the same time, we are ready to use our global and regional knowledge and expertise to support Montenegro to establish and expand mental health support services, specifically tailored to children and adolescents, as well as to improve relevant policies in this area. Expanding the availability and quality of mental health support services, both in the community and in schools, is crucial to ensure that children can easily and safely access support, without stigma or administrative barriers. Establishing quality mental health support services across Montenegro to ensure a holistic approach to the health of children and youth should be a priority for the country,” Servadei stressed.
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