Today, this October 22, 2008, took place in Podgorica, Montenegro, a National Conference on Protecting Children Victims of Violence, Abuse and Neglect, gathering H.E. Mr. Miraš Radović, Montenegrin Minister of Justice, H.E. Mr. Miodrag Radunović, Montenegrin Minister of Health, Labour and Social Welfare, H.E. Mr. Sreten Škuletić, Montenegrin Minister of Education and Science, Mrs. Noala Skinner, UNICEF Montenegro Representative, and Mr. Serge Ducasse, UNHCR Representative.

The aim of the conference was to present the results of the work of Operational Multidisciplinary Teams created by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Welfare and supported by UNICEF and UNHCR since 2002. Operational Multidisciplinary Teams consist of various professionals from different sectors and often include a psychologist, pedagogue, pediatrician, social worker, lawyer, prosecutor, judge, police inspector. The challenge of ending violence against children requires a multidisciplinary approach, as this is a cross-cutting issue of different systems: judiciary, police, health, education and social protection. Operational Multidisciplinary teams were introduced in order to connect the institutions relevant for protecting children from violence, abuse and neglect.

Based on the data since 2002, majority of 908 children victims of violence in Montenegro are aged 6-15 years; 51% are female and 12% are children refugees. 32% of cases of children victims of violence are resolved and closed; 6.6% of children ended up in an institution temporarily and the remaining ones are still being closely monitored.

“The teams have done a fantastic job. As a result of their work, 908 children have been protected from violence through the common work of professionals representing relevant institutions and working through the Centres for Social Welfare. 350 professionals have been trained on protection of children from violence, abuse and neglect so far. Today, we have data available on children victims of violence since 2002 and this is a good basis for making of a national data base,” said Mrs. Skinner at the conference in Podgorica today.

The Montenegrin Minister of Justice said that the new Law on Protection from Family Violence has been drafted and its adoption will allow a more efficient and effective protection from violence in family. “Family violence is not a private, but a serious problem of the whole society and the state is obligated to provide protection to the victims of family violence,” said Minister Radović.

The Montenegrin Minister of Health, Labour and Social Welfare reminded that no form of organized multidisciplinary work on protection of children against violence existed before 2002. From that point on, the Ministry with UNICEF and UNHCR has been implementing the program of protection of children against violence in 7 out of 10 Centres for Social Welfare: Bijelo Polje, Berane, Niksic, Podgorica, Bar, Kotor and Herceg Novi. “The Project confirmed that there is a real need for Operational Multidisciplinary Teams and this is also proved by constant increase in the number of cases of children needing protection,” said Minister Radunović at the conference today.

“UNICEF has also supported the government in dealing with violence in schools as well through the programme School without violence — creating a safe and protective environment in schools. Research in several Montenegrin primary schools found that 48% of them had experienced some form of violence such as bullying by their peers in the last couple of months. 80% of these children have not talked about violence to any adults at home or in school during this period. The data from the research and the work of OMTs point out to the necessity of investing further efforts to change attitudes and tolerance threshold for violence, stimulate cooperation and respect, as well as prevent further emersions of violent behaviours among children and against children in different settings. The fact that we have several Ministers, Mayors and senior officials from the local and international community with us today is testimony to your agreement on the importance of creating a safe and protective environment for children,” said Mrs. Skinner in her opening speech.

The Montenegrin Minister of Education and Science reminded that there are 120,000 children and young people in 21 kindergardens, 161 primary school and 49 high schools in Montenegro. They constitute a key target group. The reform of the education system needs to focus not only on their formal education, but also on raising them with a system of democratic values and on providing them with opportunities to spend quality leisure time. “We have done a lot on education, but we have quite neglected the upbringing — a function that is as important as education,” said Minister Škuletić at the conference today. An independent evaluation of the work of the Operational Multidisciplinary Teams recommend them to become part of the social protection system in Montenegro.

Mr. Ducasse, underlined that without further improvement of the child protection system there is a dramatic risk that all efforts related to the work of the Operational Multidisciplinary Teams turn to be invane.

“An independent evaluation of the work of the Operational Multidisciplinary Teams recommend them to become part of the social protection system in Montenegro. Their integration into the social protection system at the municipal and national levels would mark a special milestone for Montenegro on it way to becoming a modern European state. It is time,” concluded Mrs. Skinner.