Ahead of 21 September – the International Day of Peace, the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) recalls that peace is not merely the absence of war and open conflict. It also requires a social environment in which human dignity, diversity and the rights of others are respected, and in which violence, hatred and discrimination are not accepted as patterns of behaviour.
Montenegro marks this day in an environment where various forms of violence are becoming increasingly visible, while the distinction between violence in physical and digital spaces is becoming ever less pronounced. Hate speech, threats, insults and humiliation on social media, peer violence, discrimination and intolerance towards those perceived as different are not isolated phenomena. Their normalisation weakens social cohesion, deepens mistrust and creates an environment in which violence becomes an acceptable response to difference.
The seriousness of the problem is particularly evident in data concerning children and young people. CCE research findings show that almost 60% of secondary school students recognise some degree of peer violence in their school or community, while one in five reports having been a victim of some form of peer violence. More than 66% of students have witnessed peer violence, while digital violence is now almost as prevalent as physical violence.
The digital space is increasingly becoming a breeding ground for intolerance whose consequences do not remain confined to screens. CCE monitoring found that, out of 12,969 comments analysed across seven of the most-read news portals, 13% contained elements of hate speech. Equally concerning is the speed at which insults, dehumanisation, threats and calls for violence multiply and become normalised, blurring the line between unacceptable speech and behaviour that can lead to tangible consequences.
Recent experiences have demonstrated how quickly intolerance can escalate into actions directed against entire groups. CCE therefore stresses that responsibility for combating violence and hatred cannot be left to individuals alone, but requires timely and coordinated action by institutions, the education system, the media, political actors and civil society. Those whose public actions shape social attitudes bear particular responsibility, as the relativisation of violence and discriminatory rhetoric create fertile ground for its normalisation.
Responsibility for preserving peace also requires consistency in defending human rights and international law beyond one’s own borders. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as the continued loss of civilian lives, the scale of destruction and violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza and other parts of the occupied Palestinian territory, are brutal reminders of how fragile peace becomes when the rule of law gives way to force. Montenegro, as a country whose foreign policy is founded on respect for international law and human rights, must uphold these principles consistently – without selectivity based on who the victim is and who is responsible for the violations.
CCE emphasises that a culture of peace is built long before violence begins. It is built within families, schools, public spaces, institutions and online. It requires education that fosters empathy and critical thinking, institutions that respond in a timely manner, responsible public discourse, and a society unwilling to remain silent in the face of hatred and discrimination. Responding only once violence has escalated means dealing with the consequences of failure rather than preventing it.
CCE therefore calls on decision-makers, educational institutions, the media and other societal actors to strengthen their efforts to prevent violence, foster a culture of dialogue and protect human rights, particularly the rights of children and young people. Peace is not a word reserved for the commemoration of a single date. It is measured by how institutions respond to violence, how public figures speak about others, and how willing society is to protect the dignity of every individual.
The International Day of Peace was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981, and in 2001, 21 September was unanimously designated as a day of ceasefire and non-violence.
Aleksandra Mihaljević, Project Assistant