Coordination at national level

• Author: Maja Kostić-Mandić
• Pages: 92-93

92

9COORDINATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL

In Montenegro, there is a widespread network of institutional forms of protection against

discrimination, the basis of which is formed by the institution of the Protector of Human

Rights and Freedoms and the judicial authorities, misdemeanour courts and inspection

services. In addition, a number of other institutions deal with the protection of human

rights and freedoms with the aim of eliminatingdiscrimination from society (such as the

Committee for Human Rights and Freedoms of the Parliament of Montenegro, the Council

for Civil Monitoring of the Police and regulatory agencies).

In the executive system, the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights has a key role in

promoting and protecting human rights. The Ministry performs administrative tasks as

follows: protection of human rights and freedoms, if such protectionis not within the

competence of other ministries; improvement and promotion of human rights and

freedoms and protection against discrimination; monitoring the implementation of anti-

discrimination legislation; and education and promotion of anti-discrimination behaviour

and practices. In addition, the Ministry monitors the realisation and protection of the rights

of members of minority nations and other minority national communities in relation to their

national, ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity; monitors progress on gender

equality and the protection of the rights of religious communities in Montenegro; monitors

the improvement of the status of Roma and their integration into society; and performs

other tasks within its competence. In this context, two independent departments have

been established within the Ministry: the Department for Gender Equality and the

Department for the Improvement and Protection of the Rights of the Roma and Egyptian

Communities.

The Committee for Human Rights and Freedoms of the Parliament of Montenegro,in

accordance with its responsibilities, reviews draft laws, other regulations and general acts

and other issues relating to: human and civil rights and freedoms, with special emphasis

on minority rights; and the application of ratified international acts which are related to the

protection and promotion of the right to equality. It monitors the execution of documents,

measures and activities for enhancing equality on all grounds.

Other ministries are responsible for coordinating and dealing with anti-discrimination and

equal opportunities, including the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the Ministry of

Education, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Culture.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare is responsible for the protection of people with

disabilities, elderly people and children, as well as for the areas of employment, social and

child welfare. The other ministries mentioned above generally have responsibilities in

relation to particular areas of the life of society, rather than to grounds of discrimination.

Each ministry is the policy maker and coordinator of intersectional cooperation in respect

of the specific discrimination issues which fall within its remit. There seem to be no

contradictions among the ministries with regard to decisions or political lines.

In 2011, the Government of Montenegro adopted a Decision on establishing a Council on

the Prohibition of Discrimination as a national body for promoting non-discrimination and

coordinating anti-discrimination activities at national level. Its main tasks were to:

- Monitor and coordinate the activities ofstate bodies, state authorities and other

competent institutions in the application of statutory mechanisms for protection

against all forms of discrimination;

- Analyse the regulations in terms of their compliance with international standards on

protection against all forms of discrimination and, if necessary, initiate amendments;

- Analyse the implementation of administrative measures taken by the competent

authorities in relation to the provision of protection against all forms of discrimination