MONTENEGRO

A UNICEF report published in 2010 states that 63% of children aged 2-14 experienced violent discipline (physical punishment and/or psychological aggression) in 2005-2006. Forty-five per cent experienced physical punishment, while a smaller percentage (5%) of mothers and caregivers thought that physical punishment was necessary in childrearing, and non-violent discipline was also widely used: experienced by 93% of children. Six per cent of children experienced severe physical punishment (being hit or slapped on the face, head or ears or being hit over and over with an implement) and 56% experienced psychological aggression (being shouted at, yelled at, screamed at or insulted). Children living in larger households were more likely to experience violent discipline: 67% of children in households of 6 or more people compared to 53% of children in households of 2-3 people. The statistics also suggest that children with more siblings are more likely to experience violent discipline in most countries involved in the study (p. 72). Children living in households with adults with a higher average level of education were less likely to experience violent discipline than those living with less educated adults. No significant differences in children’s experience of violent discipline were found according to sex, age or engagement in child labour. 

(UNICEF, 2010, Child Disciplinary Practices at Home: Evidence from a Range of Low- and Middle-Income Countries, NY: UNICEF)

According to statistics from UNICEF on violence in the family, in 2005-2006 eight per cent of disabled children aged 2-9 were hit or slapped on the face, head or ears or hit over and over as hard as possible with an implement, compared with 6% of non-disabled children. Eleven per cent of girls and women aged 15-49 thought that a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife under certain circumstances.

(UNICEF, 2009,  Progress for Children: A report card on child protection, NY: UNICEF)

Interviews with young offenders, carried out as part of a UNICEF assessment of the juvenile justice system, revealed that many had experienced physical punishment during custody in penal institutions.

(Conragan, C., 2002, Children in conflict with the law: Victims of the transition – An assessment of the juvenile justice systems in the Republics of Serbia and Montenegro, UNICEF)