More than one third of children in Montenegro had a disturbing experience on the internet and it is more frequent among boys than among girls. This is confirmed by the data from the research carried out within the Let’s Stop Violence Online campaign.
To mark its 70th anniversary, within the campaign, UNICEF and government, along with the Children’s Rights Centre, will organise a young people’s debate on peer violence online. It will be held in the University of Montenegro’s Rectory building amphitheatre.
The debate is, as stated, is based on data from the survey, which was conducted using the methodology developed by the London School of Economics and Political Science and the UNICEF Innocenti research office.
The survey showed that 38% of children in Montenegro had some disturbing experience on the internet during the previous year. The experiences are prevalent among boys than among girls.
“Their number is significantly increasing as the children grow. Moreover, children aged between 9-17 years identify violence and fights as the main content that harasses them on the Internet. Children say they are mostly disturbed by peers on the Internet,” the survey on children, parents and the Internet, which was conducted in May and June, showed.
As announced by the UNICEF, the debate will be attended by representatives of high school student parliaments from Podgorica and students from Berane, Bar and Cetinje.
Representatives of Montenegrin Government and relevant institutions, international community, NGOs and the private sector will be in the audience and will be allowed to participate in a discussion with young people.
UNICEF representative in Montenegro, Benjamin Perks, university professor Lidija Vujacic and the Ipsos research agency representative Vladimir Raicevic will present the high school students with certificates of participation in the research on the Internet and youth.
“Protection of children from violence on the internet must become an important part of the ongoing reforms in the society. Therefore, digital literacy requires more attention, particularly in relation to teachers, parents and children, while schools are in the best position to lead the process of building a secure digital society in Montenegro,” Perks said.
