Human rights defenders in Montenegro: Online event on findings and recommendations of ODIHR’s assessment visit
When
Where
Organized by
On 14 and 15 September 2020, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a multi-stakeholder online event to present the key findings of ODIHR’s 2018 assessment visit to Montenegro, focusing on the situation of human rights defenders. The event will also provide a platform to discuss recommendations and possible ways forward for their implementation.
Participants
The meeting will gather around 60 participants, including representatives of state bodies, the Office of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, and civil society organizations from Montenegro. It will also be attended by representatives of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.
Objectives
The online event aims to provide a forum for exchange of information among different stakeholders, and to facilitate dialogue between state officials and civil society organizations.This is meant to address identified gaps and challenges in the protection of human rights defenders in Montenegro - in a gender-sensitive, inclusive and sustainable manner.
Mandate and background
This initiative is in line with ODIHR’s mandate to monitor the implementation of OSCE participating States’ human dimension commitments (Helsinki 1992; Budapest 1994; Oslo 1998; Maastricht 2003).
In 2018, ODIHR launched its first country-specific assessment cycle focusing on the situation of human rights defenders. In this framework, from 26 August to 1 September 2018, ODIHR conducted an assessment visit to Montenegro. This was in order to examine aspects such as gaps and challenges in the protection of human rights defenders as well as good practices in the field.
Between 2018 and 2019, ODIHR also conducted assessment visits to the Czech Republic, Georgia, Italy and Mongolia.
The online event - attended by relevant stakeholders from Montenegro - will be the first out of five country-specific discussions taking place in the last quarter of 2020. By the end of 2020, ODIHR will also issue the final assessment - and public - report on the situation of human rights defenders. This document will provide an overview and helpful analysis of findings from all country visits included in the first assessment cycle.