Bullying requires an urgent and coordinated response
Podgorica, 23 March 2026
The findings of public opinion research, as well as specific and disturbing cases of peer violence, are a call to action and an urgent change in the approach taken so far, through a clear strategy and coordinated action by different institutions, civil society, parents, and young people. The way young people are treated today will determine the kind of society that exists tomorrow, because if a safe environment, clear values, and functional institutions are not provided for them, there is a risk of producing new cycles of violence and distrust. These were some of the key messages delivered at the opening of the closing conference held within the project “SRCE: Support for the Empowerment and Resilience of Young People Today”, implemented by the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) in partnership with the Regional Academy for Democratic Development (ADD), with the support of the EU Delegation to Montenegro and co-financing from the Ministry of Public Administration of Montenegro.
“Society often forgets that a child must be protected, yet today children are exposed to the most diverse forms of violence on a daily basis. And this is not only our challenge, but one faced by the contemporary world as well,” said Minister of Justice Bojan Božović, recalling the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, which emphasises the importance of protecting children’s rights.
“We adopted, at the Government session on 12 March, the Proposal for the Law on Amendments to the Law on the Treatment of Juveniles in Criminal Proceedings, thereby aligning our framework with EU directives and international law. This strengthens the procedural protection of juveniles, including the obligation to take into account the best interests of the child and to protect their dignity and integrity. However, it must be stressed that once criminal provisions begin to be applied, it is already too late. That is why prevention is of crucial importance, so that the number of cases that end up being prosecuted can be reduced to a minimum,” Božović stated.
“It is extremely important not to remain silent about violence, especially when it comes to the school environment,” emphasised Tatjana Ćalasan, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, noting that the institution is involved in numerous projects and initiatives with international and non-governmental organisations, and that continuous efforts are being made to strengthen the protection of students and staff and to improve the conditions for quality education.
Our work focuses on the safety of students and staff, the quality of education, and broad inclusion. Every response is intended to be non-judgmental, above all calm, and directed towards protection and support for those who need it most,” she added, underlining the importance of joint efforts by all stakeholders — the Government, schools, parents, students, professional support services, local communities, and international partners.
Liselot Isakson, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Montenegro, emphasised that young people are the future of society and that it is the responsibility of adults to support them in preparing for future roles, in both favourable and challenging circumstances. She also stated that the EU has supported numerous projects for young people.
“I am pleased that the EU has supported the project ‘SRCE’, which applies a multisectoral and multidisciplinary approach, because the issue of juvenile delinquency and peer violence cannot be addressed through the action of a single institution alone, but requires the engagement of various stakeholders,” she said, stressing the importance of a system focused on resocialisation and education rather than repression.
“The further development of the juvenile justice system should be directed towards functional and specialised institutions, continuous training of professional staff, the development and wider application of alternative sanctions, and the involvement of local services and the non-governmental sector. The prison system should be used only as a measure of last resort, while ensuring separate institutions for juveniles,” Isakson explained.
She also emphasised that young people rank high on the agenda of the European Commission, through an approach based on inclusion, empowerment, and connection.
“Peer violence and juvenile delinquency are not isolated incidents — they reflect the broader social context in which young people are growing up and which shapes them. Unfortunately, that context is becoming increasingly challenging. We are witnessing the relativisation of values, attempts to distort them, slow and inconsistent institutional responses, and the shifting of responsibility. That is why these phenomena require a systemic and coordinated response,” said Daliborka Uljarević, Executive Director of the Centre for Civic Education.
She reminded everyone present that the research conducted by CCE shows that 65.7% of citizens from the general population believe that peer violence is present, while 44.2% know a victim. Among secondary school students, 89% recognise violence to some extent in their own environment, 21.6% are personally victims, and 53.4% know someone who has been a victim. When it comes to juvenile delinquency, 55.7% of adults see it as present, while every fourth respondent knows a minor in conflict with the law.
“It is clear that no single institution can solve these problems on its own. Continuous cooperation is needed among the education sector, the judiciary, the police, social protection services, the media, and civil society. It is equally important that public discourse does not normalise violence, but instead builds a culture of responsibility, empathy, and mutual respect, with political structures also having an important role to play,” Uljarević concluded.
