In a document entitled Report on the Worst Forms of Working Engagement of Children, published on the website of the Embassy, it is stated that Montenegro made moderate progress last year in the efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.
"Montenegro is the original destination and transit country for trafficking in children forced into doing labor, including begging, especially among the Roma population. Some Romani girls are sold in agreed marriages in Montenegro and Kosovo, where they are destined to serve. Children, especially girls, were sold for sexual exploitation across the countries of the region and Western Europe," the report said.
It is also pointed out that some children from the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian populations encounter obstacles when registering births, which makes their education more difficult and makes them more vulnerable to forced labor. It is clarified that the high cost of administrative fees is the reason for a large number of unregistered children in the RAE population but warns that their parents are not aware of the importance of registration. "In addition, some children with disabilities, especially in rural areas, have difficulty in education and availability of limited government social services," they say.
In last year's report, among other things, it is stated that during 2017, the Government trained inspectors to work on the prevention of the forced labor of children. It is recalled that, in cooperation with international institutions, seminars for police inspectors were organized to prevent child trafficking. Then, certain standard procedures were defined for the care of unaccompanied children in order to identify victims of trafficking on time.
"However, children in Montenegro are engaged in the worst forms of child labor, including forced begging and commercial sexual exploitation, often as part of the trafficking chain. Identifying victims is still an area in which progress is needed if the government wants to effectively combat human trafficking. The research did not reveal any evidence of programs for the systematic resolution of forced labor of children on the street, forced begging or sexual exploitation," the report said.
It is also clarified that last year the Government established and participated in programs for the prevention of child labor and points out that the programs are not adequate, nor are they focused on all sectors. The report also warns that it is not clear whether the National Action Plan for Children was implemented as well as the Strategy for the Development of Children's Protection.
Beggars are treated as offenders instead of people in need of help
In analyzing last year's results in preventing child labor, it is said that a three-member police team investigated cases of human people trafficking. The police then examined cases of child begging in cooperation with the Center for Children and Youth "Ljubovic". It is also stated that some police inspectors have passed seminars for the prevention of human trafficking.
"However, the police, judges and prosecutors need ongoing training to identify the victims of forced labor of children. Although two people have been convicted of sexual exploitation, there are noticeable gaps in prosecution, including an increase in the number of convictions," it is said and pointed out that last year, 65 beggar children were sent to the Center for Social Affairs.
They also warn that the Ombudsman criticized the work of the police and the Center for Social Affairs due to insufficient and inconsistent monitoring of information of children beggars. "Children are often treated as offenders, not victims. The Center provided services to only a small number of children begging in Montenegro. There is a lack of a specialized service for the reintegration of these children into society," they said.
Text by Samir Kajosevic, on September 30th 2018, read more at Vijesti
