While other children acquire knowledge in their schools, dozens of Roma boys and girls live on streets, scarcely dressed and begging for money. The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) warn this is about organized crime and inhuman exploitation of children but relevant institutions have been failing to react.
The national police have filed 54 minor offence charges relating to begging and against parents exploiting their children. So far, 78 activities titled “Beggars in Montenegro” have been implemented and 216 individuals controlled.
Police statistics reveal 189 individuals were begging, out of whom 82 were adults, 43 older juveniles (above-14s) and 64 children (under-14s).
In July, police conducted the largest number of activities to prevent begging and filed 16 minor offence charges. They detected 53 children who were caught begging and consequently removed from their parents’ care and placed in relevant facilities for social services.
In November, police filed 13 minor offence charges, whereas 2 Serbian citizens were cancelled their residency and prohibited to enter Montenegro for 3 months.
As Dan daily learns, Social Protection Center in Podgorica states that, from January to July, 14 children have been registered as beggars, some of whom are identified as returnees.
