Constitutive session of the Council of the Rights of the Child

The constitutive session of the Council of the Rights of the Child was held today, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister for Demography and Youth Dragoslav Šćekić.

Alongside government representatives, the council comprises the Ombudsman, the Director of the Statistical Office, the Director of the Institute for Social and Child Protection, the Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister for Demography and Youth, a representative from the non-governmental sector, and a child representative. Additionally, guests from UNICEF, Mr. Juan Santander, the Head of UNICEF Office in Montenegro, and Ms. Nada Đurović Martinović, were in attendance.

During the session, five agenda items were discussed, including the Report on the work of the Council of the Rights of the Child for the previous year, the Rules of procedure of the Council of the Rights of the Child for the previous year, the Work programme of the Council of the Rights of the Child for 2024, the Information on the implementation of measures for the prevention, suppression, and action of the Government of Montenegro in cases of violence among children, adolescents, and youth in 2023, and an Oral information on the regional conference focusing on the Barnahus model in Montenegro.

The Report on the work of the Council for the previous year and the Rules of procedure of the Council of the Rights of the Child were adopted. To ensure continuity in child rights protection, DPM Šćekić, President of the Council of the Rights, proposed continuing with a two-year work programme and expanding the programme with new ideas suggested by relevant sectors. Regarding the implementation of measures for the prevention, suppression, and action against violence among children, adolescents, and youth by the Government of Montenegro in 2023, most council members participated in the discussion. Subsequently, joint conclusions were reached to continue the fight against violence and protect children's rights, with relevant sectors providing proposals for further consideration by the Council. An oral explanation was provided regarding the organisation of a conference focusing on the Barnahus model in Montenegro, to be organised by the Government of Montenegro in collaboration with the Council of Europe and UNICEF.

President of the Council of the Rights of the Child, Dragoslav Šćekić, called upon all relevant institutions to take all necessary measures to protect children's rights and ensure that every child lives in a healthy environment where all children's rights guaranteed by domestic and international regulations ratified by Montenegro are respected. He emphasised the importance of children's participation in the Council of the Rights of the Child, expressing pleasure in having a child representative whose voice will be heard in the Council. Ultimately, he called upon the non-governmental sector to continue their collaboration in advocating for children's rights, as children are the greatest asset of society.