The Minister Mr Predrag Bošković, MA, reminded that, in the period 1998 and 1999, Montenegro had provided shelter in its territory for 140 thousand  refugees and displaced persons, predominantly from Kosovo, which at that moment represented a quarter of its population. He cited that the Strategy defined the following two manners of resolving the issue of displaced and internally displaced persons: local integration or voluntary return to the country of origin. 

Speaking of implementation of the Strategy and the Action Plan for Permanently Resolving the Issue of Displaced and Internally Displaced Persons, with special regard to the camps Konik, the Minister Bošković emphasised that in the previous year, almost all measures had been implemented, out of 42 measures planned for that period by the Action Plan for implementation of the Strategy, while the remaining 8 would be implemented this year.

He stated that the Action Plan for this year envisaged measures relating to the new legislative activities, but also a more intense regional and international cooperation on finding permanent and sustainable solutions for displaced persons in Montenegro. He estimated that significant steps were made relating to resolving the status of displaced and internally displaced persons, primarily in the field of education and health care of the members of this population.

Speaking of statistical data, the Coordinator of the Coordination Committee for Monitoring of Implementation of Strategy for Permanently Resolving the Issue of Displaced and Internally Displaced Persons, with special regard to the camps Konik I and II, Mr Predrag Bošković, MA, stated that, from 7 November 2009 to April this year, the refugees and displaced persons had submitted 9,048 requests for permanent residence permit, out of which 6016 had been resolved, 35 rejected, and the rest were in procedure. He added that so far 962 displaced persons had received the citizenship of Montenegro, 122 guarantees had been issued to displaced persons that they would receive Montenegrin citizenship if they bring a certificate of renunciation of foreign citizenship, and 120 requests were in procedure of resolution. With regard to voluntary return, 673 individuals, or 103 families, were interested to return to Kosovo. He stated that 46 families were approved to return to Kosovo, and three more acquired that right from January to June this year.

He also pointed out that almost 90% of children residing in camps Konik were attending school, and that they were provided with health care the same as Montenegrin citizens. 

The Minister pointed out that the top priorities in the following period would be resolving the housing issues of displaced and internally displaced persons and permanent resolution of issues of camps Konik I and II. He stated that, by the end of 2013, within the Regional Initiative Sarajevo Process, the construction of two housing buildings, in Nikšić and in Konik, would begin. The Minister emphasised that the Strategy envisaged permanently resolving the issue of camps Konik by 2016, and whether that would happen did not depend solely on the Government of Montenegro and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, but also on whether the donors would fulfil agreements and recommendations form the Donor Conference and at what pace the return of those who wish to return to Kosovo would be carried out.

The Minister thanked the Embassy of the United States of America for their donation of 50 thousand dollars to the residents of camp in the settlement Vrela Ribnička, which suffered great material damage following the fire that broke out in the refugee settlement in July. Included in the donations are two ambulance containers, intended for providing basic health care services to the residents of camp Konik I. Since the containers had already been used, the Operational Team for coordination and monitoring of activities of installing the container settlement formed a commission for reception and estimation of damages, consisting of representatives of the Montenegrin Army and Directorate for Property Issue; it is said in the statement. The containers would be temporarily located in the area of military barracks “Masline” until the completion of necessary repairs and equipping. He stated that relocation of the camp Konik 2 was the project of the Government of Montenegro and the USA Embassy in Podgorica, which should provide more favourable living conditions for 350 residents of this settlement. All activities relating to installation of the new container settlement would be performed by the Directorate of Public Works, with the funds provided by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, and the Ministry of Finance.

The questions posed to the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare were relating to the following:

- Is our country satisfied with the relation and activities of the Government of Kosovo and their competent institutions for resolving the status of these persons?

- What is the attitude of the international community regarding resolving the status of displaced and internally displaced persons in Montenegro?

- Have all the measures determined by the Action Plan for resolving the issue of displaced and internally displaced persons, with special regard to Camp Konik been implemented in the previous year?

- By defining the resolving the status of displaced and internally displaced persons from camp Konik as a priority, are the other displaced and internally displaced persons in the territory of Montenegro being put at a disadvantage?

- Whether the displaced and internally displaced persons residing in Montenegro are equal in employment with Montenegrin citizens considering that having a Montenegrin citizenship is usually a requirement for employment in state authority bodies?

- To what extent is the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare satisfied with cooperation and coordination with other ministries and institutions of Montenegro in charge of resolving the status of displaced and internally displaced persons?

- What amount of funds had been invested so far for the purpose of resolving the status of displaced and internally displaced persons residing in camps Konik I and II?

- Is there a difference in the rate of crimes committed by the residents of camps Konik and the rest of population of Montenegro?

- How high is the rate of crimes committed by the underage residents of camps Konik compared to the rest of population of Montenegro?

- How many displaced and internally displaced persons who obtained Montenegrin citizenship managed to get a job, and what type of jobs are those?

Ms Dawn Adie-Baird, representative of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, estimated that visible results had been achieved in the previous period, regarding resolving the status of displaced and internally displaced persons, especially persons residing in camps Konik. She deemed as positive the fact that almost 90% children from camps Konik were attending school, but, as she pointed out, there was a problem with transportation of those children to school, because there were only two minibuses for now. The education would provide prerequisites for future employment of members of this population. Their social integration is also very significant, thus their legal status needs to be regulated, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs plays a very significant role in this, because providing documents for these persons and regulating their legal status is crucial for their integration. She stated that permanent closing down of camps Konik I and II was a priority, and that attention would be paid to resolving the status of displaced and internally displaced persons in other municipalities as well.

It was concluded that the issue of permanent resolving the status of displaced and internally displaced persons in Montenegro was a very complex issue, and that the help of international community was needed, as well as the help of the countries of origin of these persons.

In accordance with the Article 77 paragraph 2 of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament, the Committee reached a unanimous decision to submit to the Parliament the Report on Control Hearing of the Coordinator of the Coordination Committee for Monitoring of Implementation of Strategy for Permanently Resolving the Issue of Displaced and Internally Displaced Persons, with special regard to the camps Konik I and II, the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Predrag Bošković, MA, on the topic: “Implementation of Strategy for Permanently Resolving the Issue of Displaced and Internally Displaced Persons, with special regard to the camps Konik I and II”.

The members of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms got acquainted with the Information on Implementation of the Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for the period 2012-2018 with Action Plan for 2012-2013, in focus of GRETA (Council of Europe) Recommendations with regard to Implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

Mr Zoran Ulama, Head of Office for Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, stated that the most important thing to point out would be that human trafficking in Montenegro did not have the nature of a phenomenon, but only individual cases would occur. He reminded that, in September 2012, the Government of Montenegro adopted a new Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for the period 2012-2018, and the accompanying Action Plan. The new strategic document defined the goals, principles and directions in combating human trafficking and the measures were determined for promotion of effectiveness of the established system for combating human trafficking in public, private and civil sector. He pointed out that the Strategy placed the focus on six fundamental fields: prevention and education; identification of human trafficking victims; help, protection, and reintegration of victims; efficient prosecution; international cooperation and coordination and partnership. The Strategy goals are harmonised with the relevant international standards, goals prescribed in the directive of the European Parliament on preventing and combating human trafficking, with recommendations by the key actors on the international stage, as well the NATO programme for combating human trafficking. The important novelty in comparison to the previous Strategy refers to introduction of a separate chapter dedicated to goals and measures for implementation of pro-active identification of potential victims of human trafficking through greater involvement of all institutions that might come in contact with the victim. In the field of prevention and education, the Strategy defines goals in direction of strengthening prevention and education activities focused on young people, especially risk groups, as well as the activities focused on strengthening the capacities of all target groups in the field of combating all types of human trafficking.

Considering that identification of human trafficking victims is very important, the measures and activities have been defined that are aimed at development and promotion of professional skills by the representatives of institutions that might come in contact with the potential victims and human trafficking victims, as well as the measures relating to forming of mobile teams and creation of specific indicators that could promote the work in the field.

He also deemed as important the help, protection and reintegration of the victims, where significant activities were being undertaken at the institutional and non-institutional level. He stated that the Office for Action against Trafficking in Human Beings promoted the existing data system of collecting, analysing and reporting on trafficking.

A significant problem that Montenegro, as well as the other countries in the region, was facing was begging in the streets, and he pointed out that only a coordinated action of all bodies and institutions might contribute to reduction of this occurrence in our society.

Following the discussion, it was decided that the Committee should draft a Report on Consideration of the Information on Implementation of the Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for the period 2012-2018 that should be submitted to the Collegium of the President of the Parliament of Montenegro and the Office for Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

In addition, the Committee adopted:

- the Information from the meeting of the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms with Mr Frank La Rue, special rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression of the UN Human Rights Council, held on 14 June 2013; and

- the Information on participation of the Chairperson of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms Mr Halil Duković, MD, at the Press Conference held on 3 September 2013, on the occasion of celebration of the sixtieth anniversary from coming into force of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.