February 20 is celebrated as the World Day of Social Justice, established by the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) in 2007 with aim to unite the countries in poverty eradication, achieving full employment, and creating a world in which everyone would have equal opportunities. Social justice, creating conditions for living with dignity, is the foundation of peace and development. Each state is expected to build its prosperity on the principles of justice, solidarity, and mutual responsibility constantly improving the economic and social human rights.

On the occasion of the World Day of Social Justice HRA again draws attention to the difficult social situation of the most vulnerable groups in Montenegro and calls upon the Government to immediately solve two urgent problems in the field of social protection: to increase the current social assistance so that it can cover the basic necessities of the beneficiaries, and to revise its allocation and enable fair and transparent distribution to those in real need.We reiterate that the most endangered in Montenegro live on social assistance seven times lower than the cost of minimum food basket. Therefore, such social support does not ensure living, but encourages development of grey economy and economic exploitation of the poorest.

At the public debate on the Draft Law on Social and Child Protection, we proposed the removal of a provision that limits, for families with parents capable for working but without employment, allocation of social assistance for a period of 9 months per year, since the same law does not guarantee them employment in that period.

Regarding the prescribed amount of social assistance, currently fixed, we proposed a semi-annual adjustment with the price increase, which would partially regulate its too low amounts.

We repeat that prescribing citizenship as a condition for the realization of social rights under this law is inconsistent with the international standards. We remind that the Proposal for the review of the constitutionality and legality of the decision of Podgorica municipality to deny access to the soup kitchen to persons without Montenegrin citizenship is in the Constitutional Court procedure. The proposal was filed by the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms at HRA initiative.

Regarding the establishment of new social services – shelters we ask for comprehensive regulation of the liability for establishment and maintenance of these facilities enabling thus their rapid set up and sustainability.