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A Coordinated System Response Is Essential to Protect Young People from Violence and Delinquency

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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.

Zoja Bojanić Lalović, a member of the Committee on Education, Science, Culture and Sport, stressed that peer violence is not sufficiently in the focus of institutions and is often treated as a sector-specific issue, even though it requires a broader social response. “In this, the role of the education system in prevention is crucial. It is necessary to strengthen the educational role of schools, foster empathy, improve the capacities of teaching staff, enhance socio-emotional skills and media literacy, and invest more in extracurricular activities and the non-formal education of young people,” she said.

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.

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No Shifting of Responsibility in Addressing Peer Violence and Juvenile Delinquency

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Podgorica, 23 March 2026

A sound systemic response to peer violence and juvenile delinquency must be swift, but not panicked. It must protect the victim, while also working with the perpetrator. It must involve the school, the family, the social welfare centre, the healthcare system, the police when necessary, and the local community. The worst outcome is when each actor shifts responsibility onto someone else. It is precisely then that the child is left caught between growing risks and an absent response, it was stated today at the first panel of the conference “Between Risks and Responses: Preventing Peer Violence and Juvenile Delinquency”, organised by the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) within the project “SRCE: Supporting the Empowerment and Resilience of Young People Today”, which it is implementing 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.

“This project emerged from the need to act before the consequences become severe, through a responsible and systemic approach. Peer violence and juvenile delinquency are serious social problems that require coordinated action by institutions, the community, and young people,” said Miloš Knežević, Development Coordinator at the Centre for Civic Education, also noting that the research findings serve as a warning that there is no room for relativising the problem and that a far more decisive, serious, and continuous response by all competent stakeholders to peer violence is necessary.

“The analysis also showed that the system must be much more strongly oriented towards the resocialisation and reintegration of minors, through better interinstitutional coordination and stronger practical support. The normative framework in itself is not sufficient if, in practice, it does not ensure effective measures, timely support, and genuine opportunities for young people to return to a safer and more supportive environment,” Knežević emphasised.

As Knežević pointed out, the project also strengthened the capacities of the police, schools, the judiciary, and other actors working with young people and minors, because an effective institutional response is not possible without continuous cooperation, professional development, and greater sensitivity to the needs of children and young people. “It is important that those who are often the first point of contact within the system have the knowledge, tools, and support to respond in a timely, responsible, and sensitive manner,” he said, warning that peer violence is an enduring problem in our society that continues to grow, while opportunities to curb it are being missed.

“One of the most important conclusions is that young people are not only a group that needs protection, but also agents of change, to whom society must give more space, trust, and support. Through camps, peer workshops, the debate programme, and other activities, it became clear that when young people are given knowledge, opportunity, and encouragement, they can become strong allies in building a safer, more resilient, and more inclusive society,” Knežević stressed.

Aleksandra Jerkov, co-founder of ADD, emphasised that “peer violence and juvenile delinquency are the result of accumulated risks — from domestic violence and social exclusion, to school failure and the lack of institutional support, as well as increasingly pronounced digital violence.” She also warned about the normalisation of violence in the public sphere through language that encourages intolerance and aggression.

“When reflecting on Serbia, it is impossible to overlook the tragedies of May 2023: the Vladislav Ribnikar Primary School, followed by Dubona and Malo Orašje. Those events shook the entire society and opened up an enormous public debate about violence among young people, the availability of weapons, the responsibility of parents, and the role of schools, the media, and institutions. However, to this day, neither society nor the families of the victims have ever received an answer to the key question: which parts of the system failed in prevention, and which failed in responding to these tragedies,” she said.

“Why was the system’s response inadequate? Because it became clear that the normative framework and the system’s actual capacities are not the same. It is not enough to have a strategy if it is not fully implemented. It is not enough to have a rulebook if the school does not have the support to enforce it. It is not enough to react only once violence has occurred. UNICEF’s situation analysis for Serbia warns of the need for stronger psychological and emotional support for children and adolescents, as well as of broader institutional weaknesses that affect child protection,” Jerkov explained.

“The fight against peer violence and juvenile delinquency is directly linked to the overall social climate. It is not possible to build a culture of non-violence within the education system while, at the same time, patterns of aggression and impunity are tolerated or encouraged in the public sphere,” Jerkov concluded.

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Bullying requires an urgent and coordinated response

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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.

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Study visit to Novi Sad as a continuation of development and learning

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Anđela Popović, Marta Borović, and Ena Božović, students of Kotor Gymnasium and winners of the debate competition on peer violence organised by the Centre for Civic Education (CCE), stayed in Novi Sad from 20 to 22 March as part of a study visit awarded as the prize for winning first place. During the three-day programme, they gained new knowledge, encountered different perspectives, and further deepened their understanding of social processes.

Their stay in Novi Sad gave them the opportunity to learn more about the work of institutions, important cultural and social initiatives, as well as examples of civic activism, with significant support provided by the partner organisation, the Regional Academy for Democratic Development (ADD).

As part of the programme, a meeting was organised with Saška Radujkov, a member of the Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, during which they discussed the work and functioning of the provincial parliament, parliamentary activities, and the European perspective of the region.

“The study trip to Novi Sad was a valuable experience for us, because through various visits and meetings we had the opportunity to see and learn many new things. Every place we visited opened up a different perspective for us and encouraged us to think about many topics more broadly and more deeply than before,” said Marta Borović.

In the cultural part of the programme, the students visited the Gallery of Matica Srpska, one of the most important cultural and artistic institutions in Serbia, where, through interactive guidance and elements of the social game K(Art)e, they became acquainted in a dynamic way with the most important works from the rich collection of this institution. This approach encouraged them to observe more actively and to develop a better understanding of artistic expression.

At the Museum of the City of Novi Sad, they visited the exhibition “Mileva: We Are a Rock”, dedicated to Mileva Marić איינstein, which brings her life and work closer through a contemporary and visually powerful concept. The combination of artistic installations and new technologies further enriched their experience and highlighted the intersection of science, art, and contemporary museology.

The programme also included a tour of Petrovaradin Fortress, one of the most recognisable symbols of Novi Sad.

“For me, the study trip to Novi Sad was an unforgettable experience. Through a carefully designed programme, we became familiar with the historical, cultural, and social context of the city, but also experienced this journey in a truly special and meaningful way. Although the visit was short, our days were filled with numerous activities and new experiences. It meant a great deal to us that the entire programme was so thoughtfully organised, which made us feel comfortable and safe. We are grateful for the opportunity to get to know the culture and history of Vojvodina better through this visit,” said Ena Božović.

An important segment of the visit was devoted to the culture of remembrance and civic responsibility. The students visited the Memorial to the Victims of the Raid at the Quay of the Victims of the Raid, and through a conversation with film director Aleksandar Reljić they further deepened their understanding of the importance of a responsible relationship towards the past. This part of the programme concluded with paying tribute to the victims who lost their lives in the collapse of the canopy at the Railway Station in Novi Sad, as well as learning more about the context of the student protests that followed this tragedy and raised important questions of responsibility, safety, and youth engagement.

“This study visit was particularly important for us because, through its various activities, we gained new knowledge and developed a better understanding of topics we had previously learned about. The direct encounters, visits, and conversations enabled us to look at certain social, cultural, and historical issues from several different angles,” said Anđela Popović.

The programme also included a visit to Kulturanova, one of the most active non-governmental organisations working in the fields of youth engagement and the arts. During the meeting with Jelena Božić, Programme Coordinator, the students learned more about the work of this organisation, as well as about the opportunities the civil sector offers to young people, especially through initiatives that encourage creativity, participation, and social responsibility.

The study visit was carried out as part of the project “SRCE: Supporting the Empowerment and Resilience of Young People Today”, which the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) is implementing in cooperation with ADD from Novi Sad, with financial support from the European Union and co-financing from the Ministry of Public Administration.