The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights published its concluding observations on the initial report of Montenegro on implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), one of the essential international human rights treaties. The concluding observations are available at: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=822&Lang=en).

The conclusions and observations have been adopted following the 53rd session of the Committee (from 10 to 28 November in Geneva), at which the initial report of Montenegro on implementation of ICESCR has been discussed. This time, however, when considering the state report, the Committee took into account the alternative report of Montenegrin NGOs as well (please see more details below).

HRA is pleased with the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee which are very specific, and which could, if implemented, lead to very useful far-reaching systemic changes.

The Committee has, inter alia, noted that Montenegro does not possess necessary statistical data for the evaluation of economic and social rights (such as e.g. records of number of homeless people who live in inadequate conditions, the number of children who leave the educational system, etc.) and recommended to set up a system to collect statistical data and undertake regular and systematic assessments of the level of enjoyment of these rights on the basis of indicators developed by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Also, the Committee recommended that all future national plans, programmes and strategies related to enjoyment of human rights should anticipate mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation of the success of their application in order to ensure that the temporary results are available at any stage of their application.

Out of concrete recommendations, HRA would like to highlight the recommendation to increase the amount of social benefits in order to ensure an adequate standard of living for individuals and families, particularly for the unemployed, the elderly and persons with disabilities.

Another important appeal to the country is to intensify its efforts to combat child labour – including begging – through systematic and effective labour inspections, by investigating, prosecuting and sanctioning those responsible, and through awareness raising campaigns for children and parents on the dangers of child labour and the importance of education. Systematic collecting of data for assessing the impact of measures taken to combat the economic exploitation of children has been recommended as well.

The Committee recommended to increase budgetary allocations to the health sector to improve the quality of public healthcare services and take effective measures to counter corruption in the healthcare sector; to establish shelters for the homeless and increase the availability of adequate accommodation for persons who are placed in the Special psychiatric hospital in Dobrota due to lack of alternative accommodation, and who do not require further treatment in (i.e. social patients).

HRA reminds that NGO’s, 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 submitted an alternative report to the Committee (the report is available at: https://www.hraction.org/wp-content/uploads/Shadow-report-to-the-Committee-on-economic-social-and-cultural-rights-in-connection-with-the-consideration-of-the-initial-report-of-Montenegro.pdf).

HRA team