OSCE Mission to Montenegro supports children and youth survivors of gender-based violence
The OSCE Mission to Montenegro recognizes the essential work that the organizations ‘Women’s Safe House’ and ‘SOS Podgorica’ do in providing a safe refuge to women and their children from gender-based violence, complementary to social and judicial response. In support of the ongoing national efforts, the Mission donated around 300 books and arts and crafts sets for children and youth survivors of gender-based violence on 22 February 2022 in Podgorica.
In handing over the books and other items during the visit to the organizations’ shelters, Dominique Waag, Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, said that with the new resources, gender-based violence will be less openly or implicitly excused, or treated as a personal problem, and more reported and penalized.
“While nothing is more important than the protection and safe accommodation in the event of violence, these inspiring books, and other craft sets will contribute to the learning efforts, creativity and psychological well-being of the children and youth hosted in the shelters,” said Waag.
The director of ‘Women’s Safe House’ Budislavka Mira Saveljić said that the donation was a continuation of the Mission’s support for the shelter during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, when ‘Women’s Safe House’ received a prefabricated house for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. “These books will help children in their rehabilitation from violence, while the arts and crafts sets will help young ones overcome the trauma through our weekly creative and educational workshops,” said Saveljić.
Biljana Zeković, director of 'SOS Podgorica’, thanked the Mission for recognizing the importance of the donation, as well as for previous assistance in furnishing some parts of the facility, which was a precondition for crisis shelter’s establishment and licensing procedure. “In addition to providing accommodation, food and safety to children, youth and their mothers, these books are important for their mental growth and development,” said Zeković.
The Mission will continue to co-operate closely with institutions and civil society organizations to prevent and combat violence against women and children.