Chairperson of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms Mr Halil Duković, MD, and Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms Ms Ljiljana Đurašković, PhD, held a meeting with Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties of the Great Britain Mr Simon Hughes. 

The meeting was attended by the following: H.E. Mr Ian Whitting, British Ambassador to Montenegro; Mr Chris Beal, Personal Secretary to the Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties; Ms Abigail Culank, Advisor for Human Rights, and Mr Ivan Vukčević, Political Officer at the British Embassy to Montenegro.  

Chairperson of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms Mr Halil Duković, MD, informed the guests on the work of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms and key activities implemented in the previous period. Citing that the competences of the Committee were defined by the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Montenegro, he pointed out that protection of rights of minorities and members of especially vulnerable groups were at the special focus of the Committee’s attention. He said that the Committee was also recognised in the Montenegro’s progress reports by the European Commission as one of the most active working bodies of the Parliament. Chairperson said that, during adoption of the Activity Plan, the Proposal for the Plan was submitted to the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro, competent bodies of the Government of Montenegro, international organisations and NGOs dealing with issues of human rights, for the purpose of obtaining remarks, proposals and suggestions, and upon invitation the said subjects would participate at the Committee meetings when the activity plan was being adopted. Additionally, he pointed out that the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms did not hold meetings only in the facilities of the Parliament, but also in the institutions housing certain categories of persons, in order for the MPs to ascertain, in direct encounter, the state of human rights in these institutions. Chairperson of the Committee pointed out that the Committee had implemented numerous public debates on various topics in cities all over Montenegro for the purpose of establishing direct contact with the citizens. Additionally, he said that on 25 February this year, the Committee would visit the Prison and Senior Home in Bijelo Polje, and the following month would organise a public debate in Ulcinj, the municipality with the majority of population being Albanian, titled: “Empowerment and support to the rights of minorities for the purpose of overall development of the state and the society”.

Chairperson of the Committee reminded that the Committee had an intensive cooperation with the NGO sector, and that the NGO “Civic Alliance” continuously monitored the work of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms. The work of the Committee had significantly contributed to promotion and strengthening of the institution of Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro, with which the Committee had a very good cooperation. 

Chairperson of the Committee pointed out that the special value of the Committee was the fact that almost 95% decisions of the Committee were adopted by consensus.

Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties asked about the protection of the citizens before the court, duration of court proceedings, independence of judiciary, and the Chairperson of the Committee said that the amendments to the Constitution had been recently adopted in order to provide independence of the judiciary, but there were problems regarding the long duration of court proceedings, especially before the basic courts. Chairperson of the Committee pointed out the importance of trainings implemented with assistance from the international organisations for the employees of the judiciary. He said that Montenegro had achieved significant progress in the field of human rights and freedoms of all its citizens, especially having in mind the fact that Montenegro was a relatively young country, which had started building its system since gaining independence in 2006.

Stating that, in every country, there were especially vulnerable categories of population, such as Roma, asylum-seekers, members of LGBT population, persons with disabilities, Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties of the Great Britain asked which of the said categories was the most vulnerable group in Montenegro.   

Chairperson of the Committee stated that none of the groups can be particularly separated having in mind that all of them have been facing a number of difficulties, but generally, day by day their state was deteriorating. He remained that there was a good legislative framework for the protection of those persons, emphasising the importance of the Anti-discrimination Law, the amendments of which have been under the parliamentary procedure currently. Regarding the rights of LGBT population, he said that pride parades were held in Montenegro, in July and October 2013, but that high degree of homophobia still existed, as a consequence of mentality of people living in this region. Speaking of RAE members in Montenegro, he said that in Montenegro, apart from domestic population, a significant number of refugees and IDP had lived – members of that population, who have found shelter in Montenegro following war events in 1999, and who, despite the fact that conflicts ceased 15 years ago, felt more secure in Montenegro than in their countries of origin. Montenegro has invested significant funds for the purpose of solving the status of displaced and internally displaced persons as well as improving the position of Roma population – by providing them education, free books and documents necessary for regulating the status, with the significant help of international community. Chairperson of the Committee said that the greatest problems in Roma community came from their traditional way of life, early leaving of school and early marriages. Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties of the Great Britain asked if members of the Committee considered the possibility of organising meeting with representatives of religious communities in order to discuss rights of LGBT population; Chairperson of the Committee said that currently was not a proper time for such a meeting, bearing in mind the relation of religious communities towards LGBT population.

Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties of the Great Britain Mr Simon Hughes asked the Chairperson of the Committee Mr Halil Duković, MD about the degree of implementation of Recommendations and Conclusions that the Committee sent to relevant bodies of the Government of Montenegro.

Chairperson of the Committee Mr Halil Duković, MD said that the Committee on Human Rights has been monitoring the degree of implementation of Recommendations and Conclusions sent to relevant state bodies, informing the Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties on the actual example. He said that in 2012, the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms requested from the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro to draw up the report on conditions in detention facilities, and the Protector did so, following his visit to the facilities. On the occasion, he noted poor conditions of the facilities. During the consideration of reports, the Committee reached conclusions and sent those to relevant state bodies for the purpose of improving the conditions. Following six months, Ministry of Interior submitted Information on degree of implementation of Conclusions and Recommendations stating that over 50% of those have been implemented and certain activities have not been organised, primarily due to poor economic situation and lack of financial funds. The Committee reached the Conclusion on implementation of the remaining Conclusions, what has been done, and the Committee would be informed on that at the following meeting.

Additionally, the Chairperson said that the Committee monitored in a similar manner the improvement in exercising the human rights of persons accommodated in Komanski most – by considering the report at the meeting and organising a visit to the Institution, in order to provide an opportunity for MPs to get insight in the state of human rights of persons accommodated in Komanski most.

Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties of the Great Britain was interested if there was a publication on human rights adapted and understandable to all citizens in Montenegro, and the Chairperson of the Committee said that there were certain publications and that nongovernmental organisations have been making a significant contribution in that field. Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties of the Great Britain voiced willingness to submit to the Committee the Publication on Human Rights, which is being used in the Great Britain, in order to inform citizens on rights they possessed and procedures for protection of those rights.

Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties of the Great Britain Mr Simon Hughes praised the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms, stating that organisation of debates was particularly interesting for the purpose of monitoring the state of human rights in those. He said that the practise of the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms should be overtaken by competent bodies in the Great Britain dealing with human rights. Furthermore, he congratulated to the Committee on numerous and various activities from the past period, expressing the hope that similar activities would be continued.