A Coordinated System Response Is Essential to Protect Young People from Violence and Delinquency
The system for addressing peer violence and juvenile delinquency remains insufficiently developed and coordinated, which calls for stronger prevention, greater intersectoral cooperation, and a stronger focus on support, education, and the resocialisation of young people, it was stated during the second panel, “How to Respond to Peer Violence and Juvenile Delinquency?”, held as part of the closing conference of the project “SRCE: Supporting 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.

The panel highlighted the role of Parliament and political actors in addressing the problem, as well as the need for stronger prevention and better intersectoral cooperation. The focus was also on the effectiveness of the existing legal framework, the application of alternative measures, and the capacities of institutions to work with children and young people, including staff specialisation and responses to new forms of violence, especially online.
It was emphasised that issues of peer violence and juvenile delinquency are often marginalised in public and political discourse, while the institutional response frequently comes reactively, after more serious incidents, rather than in a systemic and preventive manner.
“Society does not deal sufficiently with the causes of peer violence. Institutions must be strengthened and much more must be done in the area of prevention, because there are now worrying trends such as the early use of alcohol, gambling, and the rise in psychoactive substances. The value framework of society and its attitude towards education are crucial for shaping the behaviour of young people,” said Boris Mugoša, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Health, Labour and Social Welfare of the Parliament of Montenegro. Mugoša also stressed the importance of Parliament’s oversight role over the work of institutions, assessing that the responses of both the system and society are often inadequate given the seriousness of the problem.


Independent MP in the Parliament of Montenegro, Dragan Bojović, pointed out that peer violence is not merely an individual problem, but a reflection of the broader system of values. “That is why upbringing, dialogue, and strengthening cooperation between the family, the school, and the community are so important… It is also necessary to work on developing prevention mechanisms suited to the modern digital environment. Finally, promoting positive examples in society and the media is essential for building a healthier environment,” he said.

Panel participants emphasised the need to strengthen coordination among institutions — schools, the police, the prosecution service, and centres for social work — because the lack of systemic interconnection represents one of the key weaknesses of the system. Without a coordinated response, peer violence and juvenile delinquency remain serious social challenges with long-term consequences.
“Peer violence is part of a broader social context and requires coordinated action. The shortage of professional staff, the overburdening of the system, and the absence of support for families further aggravate the situation. Society often stigmatises children who commit criminal offences, even though they are themselves often victims of adverse circumstances. The focus must be on the protection and development of the child, rather than exclusively on punishment, while the effectiveness of alternative measures depends on the cooperation of all actors within the community,” said Dijana Popović Gavranović, Head of Department at the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office.

Dalida Mučić, First Class Police Inspector, pointed to the system’s limited capacities for working with minors. “During 2025, 431 criminal offences committed by minors were registered, along with a significant number of repeat offenders, which serves as a warning of the need for earlier and more systemic intervention. There are particular challenges in the digital sphere, as online violence is becoming increasingly prevalent, while cooperation with global platforms remains difficult,” she stated.

It was concluded that progress will become visible through a more open social approach to the problem, with a stronger focus on support, understanding, and the reintegration of young people, as well as on prevention, education, and resocialisation, the strengthening of socio-emotional skills, media literacy, and non-formal education, and greater support for educational institutions and teaching staff. Visible progress will also be measured through more effective prevention, better coordination, and a reduction in cases of violence. As one of the indicators of social progress, the participants also identified the need for greater visibility of positive examples and young people’s achievements in public life and the media, which would further contribute to building a more supportive social environment.









