UNICEF Montenegro has established the Business Council on Child Rights, which will work with companies to unite their efforts and resources for socially responsible initiatives that will lead to concrete, sustainable and positive changes in children’s lives.
The aim of the Business Council on Child Rights is not to fundraise for UNICEF, but to leverage resources directly for children, by facilitating coordination of and joint actions between companies and UNICEF that will contribute to resolving priority child rights issues in the country. More effective participation by the private sector has become essential during the COVID-19 crisis. This crisis has increased child poverty, the risk of violence and mental health issues, and it has resulted in a learning crisis.
Juan Santander, UNICEF Montenegro Representative, explained that, thanks to the Business Council on Child Rights, instead of having different companies acting alone and making small contributions, they will now be able to identify joint actions that they will all support simultaneously and thereby make a bigger change for children.
Mitar Bajčeta from the Montenegrin Chamber of Commerce was pleased to host the first meeting of the Business Council on Child Rights in the premises of the Montenegrin Chamber of Commerce. The Montenegrin Chamber of Commerce has been actively working with UNICEF so far in the implementation of numerous conferences, projects and activities. With today's activity we are supporting the idea of founding the Business Council for Child Rights, because we think this is an important and useful initiative for improving the development and lives of our children, stated Mr. Bajčeta.
Ana Rašović from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office welcomed the initiative of UNICEF and the private sector, headed by the Montenegrin Chamber of Commerce, to join forces to improve the situation of children in Montenegro.
Currently, seven business associations (the Chamber of Commerce, the Montenegrin Foreign Investor Council, the Association of Managers, the Association of Banks, AmCham, ICT Cortex and Rotary Clubs of Montenegro) and five companies (Crnogorska komercijalna banka, Crnogorski Telekom, Telenor, Mtel and Mercator-CG), from industries that are considered strategic for improving the wellbeing of children and families, have their representatives in the Business Council on Child Rights.
