The Defender of Human Rights and Freedoms was unable to conclusively establish that a child’s rights had been violated following repeated biting and scratching incidents at a private nursery in Podgorica.
The child’s parents said their son was injured several times during May and June 2025, allegedly by the same child in his group. They claimed that nursery staff and management had been repeatedly informed but failed to prevent further incidents despite promising action.
The most serious case reportedly left the child with two visible bite marks, swelling and bruising on his forearm. His parents sought medical assistance, took photos of the injuries and filed a complaint with the Education Inspectorate.
The Inspectorate found no grounds for administrative action. Nursery management said the parents of the child displaying the behavior had been advised to seek psychological support.
Although the Human Rights Defender could not confirm a rights violation based on the available evidence, the opinion criticized the nursery’s response, saying management had failed to resolve the dispute or establish effective communication with the family. The parents eventually pulled their child out the nursery.
Recommendations include establishing mediation procedures, organizing non-violent conflict resolution workshops, rebuilding trust with parents and creating a child protection team. The nursery must report on its actions within 20 days.
