Strengthening capacities of Montenegro’s Parliamentary Committee for Gender Equality in focus at OSCE-supported sessions

With the goal of strengthening the capacities of the Parliamentary Committee for Gender Equality and their oversight role, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro supported two thematic sessions of the Committee that took place on 21 and 24 November 2014 in Podgorica. 

During the first session, a representative of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented their Comparative Study of Structures for Women MPs in the OSCE Region. Experts from Belgrade and Skopje presented their hands-on experience, the challenges they faced and the achievements accomplished.

During the second session of the Gender Equality Committee, ODIHR presented two Opinions on the impact of the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence on legislation in Montenegro and on the Draft law on compensation of damages for victims of criminal acts in Montenegro. The session focused on a package of legal reforms that had been initiated in order to make key legislation of Montenegro compliant with the Council of Europe's Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence following Montenegro's ratification of the Convention in April 2013.

Acknowledging the positive steps that Montenegro has made in the fight against violence on women and domestic violence, Deputy Head of OSCE Mission to Montenegro Waldemar Figaj reminded that the protection system is still not at the expected level and called on all institutions to carefully consider ODIHR’s recommendations.

Between 1 January and 15 September 2014, courts delivered 87 judgments for domestic violence, finding defendants guilty in 75 cases, four dismissals, seven acquittals and one cancellation. “The Ministry has been working closely with the UN and the OSCE Mission in Montenegro organizing many workshops and seminars for different stakeholders involved in prevention and protection issues in domestic violence,” said Human and Minority Rights Minister Suad Numanovic.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Igor Luksic said: “The efficient protection of human rights requires not only the adoption of adequate legislation, but also change of attitudes and views and fight against gender stereotypes and sexism. The Montenegrin Government highly appreciates the recommendations laid out in ODIHR’s Opinion, whose implementation into domestic legislation will achieve a higher level of compliance of Montenegro’s legislation with the provisions of the Istanbul Convention,” said Luksic.

Luksic noted that violence against women and domestic violence constituted serious violations of human rights, and the fight against those violations was among the government’s priorities.