Government, UNICEF: Visible progress, much work remains to be done in the coming period

The annual conference of the Government and UNICEF was held today at the Hilton Hotel.

The conference reviewed the results of the implementation of the two-year Joint Programme in the previous year, as well as the activities to be carried out in 2024.

Progress has been observed in reducing the number of children living in poverty and residential institutions and increasing MMR vaccination rates, but much work remains to be done in the coming period.

Deputy Prime Minister for Demography and Youth and Minister of Sports and Youth Dragoslav Šćekić, in his address, thanked all those who led activities within the implementation plan for 2023 and emphasised their invaluable contribution to ensuring that all children have quality conditions for development and a better future.

I want to emphasise that we have collectively achieved a lot when it comes to improving the position of children, and we are continuously improving systems in all areas in accordance with European standards, attaching special importance to supporting vulnerable groups of children. The protection of children with disabilities, children affected by poverty, refugee children, Roma children, children victims of violence, abuse, and neglect, and children without parental care will continue to be one of the priorities of the Government of Montenegro in the coming period, said Šćekić.

Deputy Prime Minister Šćekić emphasised that the work plan for 2024 is aligned with the Work Programme of the Council for the Rights of the Child for 2024 and will contribute to the implementation of European Commission recommendations regarding children's rights. The plan will encompass improving legal and strategic frameworks in the areas of social and child protection, education, health, strengthening professional capacity, changing attitudes and behaviors through awareness-raising campaigns, introducing new and strengthening existing services, as well as improving the quality of data on children, budget policies related to children, and monitoring the state of children's rights.