UNICEF Office in Montenegro launched its study Multidimensional Child Poverty in Montenegro at the Fourth Meeting of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms of the Parliament of Montenegro.
Mr Juan Santander, UNICEF Representative to Montenegro addressed the participants acknowledging the importance of drawing attention to child poverty and emphasizing that UNICEF fully supported open and transparent debate on priorities for children in Montenegro. Mr Santander stressed that children were the human capital of Montenegro, therefore all stakeholders had collective responsibility to make sure no child grows up in poverty and to make sure no child is left behind.
Stressing the importance of investing in child, UNICEF Representative to Montenegro reminded that evidence worldwide has demonstrated that investing in young children was one of the soundest economic investments for sustainable, inclusive and equitable economic growth.
“Children are at the heart of any country’s development and at the centre of Montenegro’s European Union accession process. Montenegro can count on UNICEF as a reliable partner in these efforts. But the real power to break the circle of child poverty lies with you, here, in this room. Every law, every policy, every decision for reform affects child poverty directly or indirectly. Each one is an opportunity to solve child poverty”, Mr Santander concluded.
President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Aleksa Bečić stressed readiness and openness of the Parliament to collaborate with all institutions dealing with this issue.