The problem of violence against children is most prevalent within the family, and the traditional understanding of family relations in Montenegrin society contributes to its under-reporting, it was announced at a conference organized by the Government and UNICEF in Podgorica.
The conference "Let's stop violence against children" was organized as part of the global campaign on protecting children from violence, which Montenegro joined in July last year.
The protector of human rights and freedoms, Sućko Baković, said that based on their work with children and their address, it is evident that the problem of violence against children is present in Montenegrin society, especially violence in the family, in schools and peer violence.
"Our observations are that this violence is most present within the family. In most cases, children are victims - witnesses of violence. "The traditional marriage of family and family relations contributes to the fact that this violence is not reported sufficiently, that is, it remains within the family circle," said Baković.
He pointed out that the existing system of records on cases of violence, the measures taken and the final outcome of the proceedings is not satisfactory, and that there is a lack of uniform records.
"The records kept by the centers for social work, the Police Directorate, the State Prosecutor's Office and the courts are not complementary, so we still do not have a clear picture of the prevalence of this phenomenon in Montenegrin society. Our handling of complaints and other findings show us that inter-institutional cooperation in the field of combating domestic violence is not satisfactory," said Baković.
As he stated, according to the data of the Judicial Council, the courts in Montenegro had 2015 cases in operation in 228, and 249 in the previous year due to the criminal offense of violence in the family and family community.
"In 2015, 128 and 2016 convictions were handed down in 167," Baković said.
According to him, in order to stop violence in the family, and thus also violence against children, measures to stop violence must be significantly strengthened, first of all by effective investigation of each reported case and an adequate criminal policy.
As he stated, the protector's institution, acting on complaints and through activities that included direct work with elementary school students, noticed the increasingly current problem of peer violence.
"The presence of peer violence and more and more student complaints about violence that occurs in school, the school environment and the local environment, points to the conclusion that the occurrence of violence among or against children is increasing, or perhaps children are more free to talk about it and report violence" , Baković added.
Ministers whose portfolios participated in the drafting of the Strategy for the Prevention and Protection of Children from Violence 2017-2021 said that the Government is ready and determined to oppose violence against children, as one of the most negative phenomena in society.
The Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Kemal Purišić, said that the specific goals of the strategy are defined so that in the next four years they direct the state's resources towards strengthening the protection system, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international documents that regulate that area.
He said that the department headed by him will coordinate the process of creating an analysis of the legal framework on violence against children, in order to identify the need for changes and adoption of new legal solutions that will regulate the area.
"In cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and partners, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare will participate in the creation and functioning of the national children's home for children victims of violence, in which special programs for child victims will be developed," said Purišić.
As he explained, forensic interviews with children who were exposed to sexual and physical abuse or violence in the family will be conducted in the children's home, medical examinations, trauma assessment and short-term treatment will be performed.
The Minister of Justice, Zoran Pažin, reminded that the Government has not yet adopted the strategy, but, as he stated, it is being devotedly worked on.
He said that it is necessary to establish a register of persons convicted of crimes against sexual freedom committed against children.
"I am using the opportunity to suggest that the deadline, which is foreseen in the strategy, 2021, is inappropriately long, and I think that it should be done in a shorter period," Pažin said.
He believes that care should be taken to inform children and their representatives about children's rights and available support services within the justice system.
"It is necessary to connect and network the databases of all relevant ministries in the part that deals with violence against children," Pažin said.
The Minister of Health, Kenan Hrapović, said that the health of children is the greatest capital of society and the assumption of sustainable development.
"Traumatic experiences lived in childhood leave scars, and these biological memories weaken the human physiological system," said Hrapović.
According to him, when a child is hurt emotionally and psychologically, he grows up with the risk of taking on all the characteristics of the behavior of those who caused it.
"Contributing to maintaining and perpetuating the cycle of abuse, neglect, violence, being transmitted from generation to generation," Hrapović added.
He said that the abuse and neglect of children is not only a public health problem, but also a legal and human rights issue, a security issue, a problem that should be dealt with by all sectors and society as a whole.
"Violence can and must be prevented, because we owe children a life without violence and fear," said Hrapović.
The Minister of Education, Damir Šehović, said that the school is a place where the general social climate intersects and family values are manifested.
He reminded that the Ministry, in cooperation with UNICEF, in the school year 2005/2006. In XNUMX, the School without Violence project began, which is intended for students, teaching and non-teaching staff, parents and the entire community, with the aim of preventing violence among school children.
"It is important that all employees in schools know how to recognize indicators of violence - physical, psychological, sexual, peer, but also financial and material exploitation and social isolation," said Šehović.
According to him, it is particularly important to observe neglect of children's needs and other forms of abuse in schools.
"It is even more important that the employees in schools are responsible, that they are ready, professional, that they react and report suspicions of violence, abuse and neglect of children," stressed Šehović.
Minister of Internal Affairs Mevludin Nuhodžić said that the department will make additional efforts to protect children from domestic violence and physical punishment.
As he stated, he will pay special attention to increasing the number of police officers trained to work with children and their knowledge of acting in the best interest of the child.
"Police that are educated and trained to identify child victims of violence and abuse, as well as to act with due care in such situations, can in many ways alleviate the trauma to which child victims are exposed," said Nuhodžić.
According to him, it is planned that each police center and security department will have specialized and standard-equipped rooms where police officers would interview children in a friendly atmosphere.
The Minister for Human and Minority Rights, Mehmed Zenka, said that children are the greatest wealth of Montenegrin society and that violence against them must be prevented.
"Today's presence of a large number of government representatives is proof of the Government's determination to fight against the most negative phenomenon of a society," Zenka believes.
He said that there is a dimension of violence that destroys entire generations of children, and in which politicians are the biggest culprits.
"One of the ways to fight violence is for politicians to lead peaceful policies," Zenka emphasized.
He pointed out that children should be taught tolerance, and that differences are wealth, adding that prejudices do not exist among children.
"Prejudice only comes when old sick minds get involved. If we create a positive example, and if we wish our children well, let's teach them to respect others as much as they love their own," said Zenka.
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