On 19 June, the Second meeting of the Steering Committee of the project "Prevent bullying and violence in schools in Montenegro" was held in Podgorica, which brought together key stakeholders in this area who discussed the results of the project so far, as well as the activities planned for the next period.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Embassy of Germany, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care, and Demography, the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, the Institute for Education, and the Association of Parents.

Lejla Dervišagić, Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Podgorica, opened the meeting and emphasised the importance of a long-term and systemic approach in combating violence in the education system. In her address, she also reminded of other projects implemented by the Council of Europe, which, in synergy, can make a significant contribution to the suppression of violence among children and young people.

Vesna Atanasova, Head of the Unit for Formal and Informal Education in the Department of Education at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, placed the project within a broader European context, highlighting the importance of education in fostering democratic culture and respect for human rights. She also mentioned the importance of intersectoral cooperation and thanked the members of the Steering Committee for their overall contribution to the implementation of project activities.

The Director General of the Directorate for Preschool and Elementary Education in the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, Svetlana Drobnjak, presented the measures the Ministry is taking, including the installation of video surveillance in schools, the hiring of security assistants and the strengthening of school expert teams.

Miloš Bošković, Senior Project Officer, presented the activities that were carried out within the project in the period between the two Steering Committee meetings, as well as the activities that were planned until the end of the year. A special focus was placed on the national research on violence, which will include students, parents and teachers in all schools in Montenegro. The research will provide a basis for decision-making and strategic documents and actions, as well as for strengthening the capacity of schools to be safe, supportive and inclusive environments for all children.

The project is implemented by the Council of Europe with the financial support of the Federal Republic of Germany, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation.