The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) called on the Government to urgently ensure every child to grow up in a safe family environment.

The UNICEF Office in Montenegro announced that Montenegro was the first country in the region that did not have children under the age of three placed in social and child protection institutions, but that, unfortunately, this was no longer the case.

According to the press release from this international organization, instead of being placed in institutions, such as the “Bijela” Children’s Home, children without adequate parental care up to three years of age should grow up in foster families, or be adopted if their return to theit biological families is not possible.

“UNICEF calls on the Government of Montenegro to urgently allow every child to grow up in a safe family environment”, the press statement reads.

Acting Head of the UNICEF Office for Montenegro Sabina Zunic said that research conducted for over 50 years demonstrated that children placed in institutions in early childhood are exposed to the risk of developmental delays.

“For this reason, UNICEF calls on the Government to urgently ensure that no child under the age of three is placed in an institution”, Zunic said.