Ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović received representatives of non-governmental organisations working in this field.
During the meeting, representatives highlighted the seriousness of violence against women in Montenegro and the fact that the problem has reached alarming proportions.
Particular attention was given to the need to further strengthen and provide specialised training for all key actors within the protection system, including the police, social work centres, prosecutors and courts.
Representatives of the non-governmental sector also stressed the need for the Government to allocate significantly more resources to shelters, SOS helplines and psychological counselling services in order to strengthen the overall protection system and empower women to report violence.
Only a strong and coordinated system of support can ensure that women and children who experience violence receive timely protection, safety and the support they need.