Human Rights Action (HRA) submitted to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights an alternative report of 14 Montenegrin NGOs on implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), preceding the upcoming discussion on the Government’s Initial report on implementation of ICESCR.

The report was drafted by (in alphabetical order): Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro, Civic Alliance, Centre for Civic Education, Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, The Centre for Monitoring and Research, Child Rights Centre, First Parent’s Association for Children with Special Needs, Human Rights Action, The Network for Affirmation of NGO Sector, Montenegrin Women’s Lobby, PRIMA, Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro, Women’s Rights Centre and Women’s Safe House.

The report is 77 pages long and contains over 100 recommendations.

HRA coordinated the process of drafting and editing of the alternative report, with significant assistance of the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM).

The alternative report is particularly important given that the Committee, after considering it, will provide its recommendations to the State in the form of “concluding observations”.

The report indicates that the situation in Montenegro in terms of realization and protection of economic, social and cultural rights guaranteed under the Covenant is inadequate, and that members of marginalized groups are particularly vulnerable.

Montenegro was obliged to report to the Committee on the implementation of the ICESCR in 2008, but this was done with delay in 2010. The state report will be presented before the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on 13 and 14 November 2014.

Please note that non-governmental organizations were not involved in the process of drafting the Government’s report at any stage. The Committee, which encourages States to include NGOs in this process , additionally asked the Government of Montenegro in June this year whether it had included NGOs in the preparation of initial report. However, even after this reminding, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare did not include NGOs in the reporting process.
In the general interest of supporting debate before the Committee in Geneva, this alternative report will be published on Friday – on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty – and submitted to the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, in order to prepare for the upcoming session.

Mirjana Radović, Coordinator for drafting of the report

Human Rights Action