HRA wishes to use this opportunity to draw attention to the common positions of as many as four committees of the United Nations that have discussed the respect for human rights in Montenegro this year – Human Rights Committee, Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Committee for the Prevention of Torture.

In their own domain each committee made a number of recommendations, however, together they came to the following five conclusions:

1) Adequate protection of human rights requires an independent and impartial judiciary in Montenegro, and to this end all necessary measures should be taken, primarily to prescribe clear and objective criteria and procedures for the appointment, promotion and establishment of accountability of judges;

2) It is necessary to increase the capacity of the Ombudsman (both human and material) in order for that institution to exercise an important role in protecting human rights. Also, it has been recommended that the results of previous work of the Ombudsman be objectively assessed;

3) It is necessary that Montenegro starts to gather clear and accurate statistical data and keep accurate records in order to estimate the enjoyment of human rights in its territory;

4) With respect to the protection from discrimination, it is necessary to intensify the efforts to ensure understanding of non-discrimination, to train judges, prosecutors and police officers to recognize discriminatory intent, effectively investigate and appropriately punish incitement of hatred and all forms of violence motivated by hatred at any discriminatory basis, and especially combat and punish discrimination against Roma and LGBT people;

5) The government should include NGOs in the development of the following official reports on human rights in Montenegro.

Committee reports are available in English at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/Pages/HumanRightsBodies.aspx.

The state is obliged to translate them and act upon them.

HRA Team