Children and weapons in Montenegro - A review of data and research
Children and weapons in Montenegro - A review of data and research

Author(s): Author Not Specified
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Security and defense
Published by: The South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC)
Keywords: Montenegro; Small Arms and Light Weapons; SALW; Child Protection; School Violence; Traditional Weapon Culture
Summary/Abstract: This research on the impact of small arms on children and young people in Montenegro was commissioned by the SALW Education (Curriculum) component of the EU Western Balkans SALW Control Support Plan 2006 project implemented by SEESAC. One of the first requirements of any attempt to develop educational responses to social issues is obtaining quality data. In the case of small arms, this means data on; 1) the impact of small arms on children and young people, in terms of statistics on crime (homicides, assaults, armed robbery), where young people may be victims or perpetrators; 2) public health data (accidental deaths and injuries, suicides); 3) information about attitudes and perceptions of small arms on the part of children and their parents and teachers; and 4) broader data on violence in society and its impact on children. The 2004 SALW Survey of Montenegro, ‘A house isn’t a home without a gun’, indicated that there was little or no data available relating to children and young people. The crime statistics reporting on assaults used the age category 15 - 29, a standard category in such reporting, but one that is not helpful for programming for children, defined as from birth to 18 years of age. The survey showed that people aged 15 - 29 and 30 - 44, mostly males, were the main victims and perpetrators of armed assaults. Meetings held by the SEESAC Education Consultant, with UNICEF and Dr. Anđa Backović confirmed this lack of data on children and small arms, and therefore the impossibility of developing any appropriate educational responses.

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