2007 ANNUAL REPORT

 

 

FOSI-ROM’s mission in 2007 was to support Montenegro in the introduction of European standards by means of strengthening the civil society and the institutions in charge of implementing reform processes. In this regard, FOSI-ROM’s activities and resources focused on supporting development and monitoring implementation of policies, as well as on enhancing human and institutional resources in the following areas: EU integrations, education, judiciary, public administration and local government and protection of vulnerable groups.

 

Total amount of funds invested in FOSI-ROM’s activities in 2007 was 824,685.19 EUR. Out of the given amount, Montenegrin Foundation allocated 655,119.45 EUR, while OSI network programs from Budapest and New York allocated 169,565.74 EUR.

 

 

EUROPEAN PROGRAM

 

Program Coordinator: Bego Begu

 

The strategic goal of FOSI-ROM’s European Program in 2007 was strengthening the European idea in Montenegro and enhancing the level of information concerning EU institutions, standards and policies across all social structures. To this aim, various types of training seminars, courses, workshops and study trips were organized. Considering the fact that the media have a significant role in providing better understanding of the integration processes, FOSI-ROM funded research on current media coverage of this matter, together with seminars and workshops for reporters. Within the activities on mobilizing the civil sector to take a more active part in the European integration process, FOSI-ROM funded development of a situation analysis in the fields of human and minority rights and the judiciary in Montenegro, in order to facilitate better understanding of the situation and monitoring of developments in the given fields by the European Commission, which issues regular annual monitoring reports on stabilization and association for Montenegro. Furthermore, FOSI-ROM funded research and public debate aimed to enhance public information related to the issues of Montenegro’s accession to NATO. Special attention was devoted to strengthening cooperation between the civil sector and public administration and examining the status of women’s rights in Montenegro. 

 

Total amount allocated for the activities within the European Program in 2007 was 132,599.35 EUR.

 

1. Presenting the EU Structure and Standards and Strengthening the European Idea in  Montenegro

  • The Sixth Generation of the School of European Integrations and the Third Regional School of European Integrations (project submitted by Center for Civic Education-CGO, Center for Development of NGOs-CRNVO and European Movement in Montenegro). The project represents continuation of the unique alternative educational program that encompasses economics, European integrations and systems for the protection of human rights in the European Union. The training took place between September 2007 and late January 2008 and was organized simultaneously for a group of 30 participants in Podgorica and another one of 20 participants from the northern region in Bijelo Polje; the two groups attended a joint final seminar. The School is intended to motivate the participants to initiate activities to promote European standards and incorporate them in the contemporary Montenegrin society. Amount allocated: 47,754.00 EUR.

  • We are Travelling to Europe (project submitted by the European Movement in Montenegro). The project provided a group of 20 most successful students of the University of Montenegro with an opportunity to travel, in the summer of 2007, to a European country of their choice and experience life there. The project enabled young Montenegrin academics to directly encounter and visit the countries, cities, people and national cultures of Europe and to present Montenegro to Europe. Montenegro’s orientation to European Union gained another direct channel, providing most benefit precisely to those who will be designing the future of Montenegro. Direct encounter with Europe is a good way to create an adequate picture of the geopolitical context, free of irrational prejudice, unrealistic expectations and uncritical glorification. The project promotes education as a valid means for success in  life and raises the awareness among young people about the importance of performance in education. Amount allocated: 10,070.00 EUR.

2. Civil Sector Mobilization for Intensified Participation in the Integration Processes

  • Input of Montenegrin NGO Sector for the European Commission Monitoring Report on the Stabilization and Association Process, June 2007 (in-house project). NGO sector provided a detailed elaboration of the situation in Montenegro with the aim to facilitate better understanding of the situation and monitoring of developments by the European Commission, which issues regular annual monitoring reports on stabilization and association in Montenegro. The project encompassed development and translation of reports on human and minority rights and judiciary reform in Montenegro for the period July 2006 - July 2007, written by experts from the Center for Democratisation and Human Righs (CEDEM) and Center for Human and Minority Rights (CEZAM). The document was delivered to the EC via OSI-Brussels. Amount allocated: 1,192.19 EUR.

  • Creating the Conditions for an Informative Democratic Public Debate on Montenegro’s Accession to NATO (project submitted by Nansen Dialog Center).  The project aimed to enhance public information on the issues related to Montenegro’s accession to NATO and lay the foundations for a democratic public debate. As part of the project, Nansen Dialog Center conducted a survey on the positions of Montenegrin institutions, analyzed their responses and published the findings, which served as the basis for a round table that gathered representatives of local and international institutions, political parties, NGOs  and the media. A publication titled "Understanding NATO" was issued - a number of authors analyzed different aspects of NATO and presented  the possible impact of NATO integrations. The publication improved the level of information on this issue among all stakeholders and fostered further public debate on Montenegro joining NATO based on reliable facts. Amount allocated: 15,540.00 EUR.

3. Cooperation between the Civil Sector and Public Administration

  • Program Focused on the Parliament (project submitted by the Center for Democratic Transition - CDT). The project aimed at better transparency of the work of the Montenegrin Parliament, better citizen participation in parliamentary activities and demystification of its work to improve the level of information among citizens and their trust in the official institutions. The project included the following three activities: citizens' visits to the Parliament, newsletter on the work of the Parliament and an internship program for ten students of the Montenegrin University. Project activities served to foster communication between citizens and their elected representatives and enable citizens to influence the decision-making process in the Parliament. In addition to this, interns were given an opportunity to enhance their knowledge through practical work, while the Parliament obtained expert support and assistance in the performance of daily activities and upcoming tasks in the field of European integrations. Amount allocated: 12,000.00 EUR.

  • Educational Campaign on the Implementation of the Law on Consumer Protection (project submitted by the Center for Consumer Protection-CEZAP). The project contributes to the adoption of legal standards, development of legal framework and creation of an overall social climate where consumers will be guaranteed effective legal protection and development of a preventative system for consumer protection. The project included the following activities: seminars on consumer protection as perceived by the EU; seminars on the importance of the Law on Consumer Protection and the role of state authorities and NGOs in its implementation; creation and distribution of a booklet for consumers containing explanations of the Law; taking in consumers’ complaints and objections using an open phone line and CEZAP website and providing assistance and mediation in addressing them. Amount allocated: 14,793.50 EUR.

4. Informing the Public about the EU and the Stabilization and Association Process in  Montenegro

  • Montenegro and the EU: Using the Media to Involve Citizens in the Discussion on European Integration Issues (project submitted by the Montenegrin Media Institute). The project responds to the need of Montenegrin citizens to be timely and thoroughly informed about the issues directly related to the European integration processes and their impact (both favourable and unfavourable) on various aspects of life. Within the project, MMI conducted research on current media coverage of these issues and organized seminars/workshops for reporters, intended to enable new perspectives in addressing these issues and generating reports. Amount allocated: 17,724.76 EUR.

  • Professional Discussions: Montenegro and the EU - Project Continuation in 2007 (project submitted by the Montenegrin Media Institute). The project included two workshops titled "Montenegro and the EU: Using the Media to Involve the Public in European Integrations", organized for the reporters who had previously attended the seminars/workshops within the 2006 Professional Discussions: Montenegro and the EU. During two one-day events, the participants and their trainers shared the new experiences in reporting about various aspects of European integrations. By supporting this project, FOSI-ROM assists the media in acquainting the citizens with European economic issues and informing them about all aspects of the European integration process and its ultimate consequences.  Amount allocated: 1,899.65 EUR (funds remained from Professional Discussions: Montenegro and the EU in 2006.)

  • Citizens Assist Journalists (project submitted by the NGO for Development of Electronic Media and Fostering the Culture of Communication-PRONEN and Center for Development of NGOs-CRNVO). The project provides opportunities for citizens to influence the contents of existing public and private media in Montenegro and helps the media perform their main task of providing citizens with information that enables them to make the best choices and decisions for themselves and their community. By means of PCNEN e-magazine, citizens publicly propose to editors and journalists ideas for different forms of media reports, suggest directions in researching some current and, from the standpoint of public interest, relevant topics, and suggest questions to be put to public officials.  PCNEN column "Citizens Assist Journalists" provides a forum for comments on the proposals and suggestions submitted and for media/reporters’ response. Amount allocated: 3.510,00 EUR.

  • Status of Women’s Rights in Montenegro in 2007-2008, Phase III (project submitted by ANIMA - Center for Women’s and Peace Education). The project includes implementation of activities within the third phase of development of shadow report in accordance with the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women - CEDAW. Development of this report involved a team of activists from several women NGOs that deal with different issues from the domain of women's rights. FOSI ROM supported the initial two phases of development of this report through its Women’s Program and Post-Referendum Activities Program; the third phase encompasses further work and finalization of the shadow report as well as development of a comprehensive publication that will summarize the status of women’s rigths based on the research conducted and data collected. Amount allocated: 10,014.90 EUR.

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EDUCATION REFORM PROGRAM

 

Program Coordinator: Maja Kovačević

 

FOSI-ROM’s strategic goal in the field of education in 2007 was to contribute to the provision of sustainable, quality and transparent continuation of educational reform.  

 

This was implemented through a number of activities in the following priority areas: 1) strengthening human resource and institucional capacities of educational institutions and teacher training; 2) fostering an active role of NGOs, parent and student associations in the reform processes; 3) Program for International Student Assessment - PISA; 3) incorporating the issues of equality and inclusion as important indicators of quality of the educational system; 4) support to the transparency of the reform process.

 

Total amount of funds allocated to Education Reform Program was 163,057.63 EUR.

 

1. Strengthening Human Resource and Institutional Capacities of Central Education Institutions, the Ministry of Education and Science, Bureau for Educational Services and Examination Center

  • Development of Strategy for Civic Education in Primary and Secondary Schools 2007 - 2010. The Strategy was presented to the professionals and representatives of the international community in Montenegro at the presentation held on 14th December 2007. The support granted to this project referred to engagement of Tomislav Reškovac, education expert from Zagreb, as project consultant. The Strategy is available at: www.osim.cg.yu. Amount allocated: 4,684.41 EUR.

  • Action Plan for Introduction of Sustainable Development in the Education System (project submitted by MES). This strategic paper defined the roles and responsibilities of educational institutions, primarily the Ministry of Education and Science, Bureau for Educational Services, Examination Center, Textbook Department and Center for Vocational Education,  as well as the activities that these institutions needed to implement for the purpose of quality and systemic introduction of sustainable development into the educational system. The Action Plan is available at: www.osim.cg.yu. Amount allocated: 5,700.00 EUR.

  • Development and Implementation of Compulsory Elective Courses in General-Program Secondary Schools / the Matura Standard (project submitted by BES). The project aimed to provide matura standard supplement for all courses and enable students to select two courses in the external matura exam - in addition to Mother Tongue and Math/Foreign Language - according to their own affinities and thus gear themselves towards the desired university course. Amount allocated: 8,105.00 EUR.

  • Development of Curricula for Elective Courses in Elementary and General-Program Secondary Schools (submitted by BES). The aim of the project was development of curricula for 10 elective courses - five for general-program secondary schools and five for elementary schools - in order to enable students to tailor their education to their talents. Amount allocated: 12,000.00 EUR.

  • Better Quality of Curricula for the First Cycle of Nine-Year Elementary School (Grades I - III) (project submitted by BES). After the first generation of elementary school students from 20 schools completed the third grade using the reformed curricula, a need was identified for expert analysis and partial revision of the curricula. Analysis results and recommendations in order to improve the curricula will be produced by May 2008. Amount allocated: 6,700.00 EUR.

  • Training for Secondary School Teachers of Civic Education (project submitted by the BES). The project included two seminars for 22 teachers of Civic Education - as of 2007, an elective course attended by approximately one thousand students in 18 high schools in Montenegro.  Amount allocated: 6,224.50 EUR.

  • Media Literacy - a New Course in Formal Secondary Education (in-house project). The main goal of the project is to introduce media literacy as a special elective course in secondary schools, aimed to enable young people for critical consideration of the information provided by the media. The project includes development of the course curriculum, engagement of consultants and development of teaching materials. Amount allocated: 24,142.07 EUR.

2. Fostering an Active Role of NGOs, Parent and Student Associations in the Reform Processes

  • Active Student Associations (project submitted by the NGO Office for the Protection of Students’ Rights and Care for Students’ Standard). The project involved students’ associations from 6 secondary schools from Nikšić, Plužine, Cetinje and Rožaje. At two-day seminars, they were trained to design and run projects. The Ministry of Education and Science funded implementation of the best three project concepts. Amount allocated: 7,980.00 EUR.

  • The New Concept of General-Program Secondary School from the Standpoint of Parents (project submitted by the NGO Parents' Association of Montenegro). The project aimed to examine, one year after the introduction of the new educational concept in the reformed general-program secondary school, the views and attitudes among students and parents regarding the quality of the curricula, with particular emphasis on elective courses. The publication and survey findings available at: www.osim.cg.yu. Amount allocated: 9,767.10 EUR.

  • "You are Right!" A Guide to the Law. And Everything Else. (project submitted by the Association for Democratic Prosperity - ZID). The project includes development, publication and distribution of the guide intended for young people and providing comprehensive and diverse information important for their future. Among the topics covered are: education, health, safety, state and law, travel, minority groups etc. Amount allocated: 12,875.00 EUR.

  • Handbook on Sexual and Reproductive Health (project submitted by the NGO Safe Women’s House). The purpose of the Handbook is to provide young people with professional and objective information related to sexual and reproductive health and thus compensate, to an extent, for the lack of educational programs dealing with these issues in schools. Amount allocated: 16,264.50 EUR (10,000 EUR from the Education Reform Program and 6,264.50 EUR from Women’s Program).

3. Program for International Student Assessment - PISA (www.pisa.cg.yu)

  • Building the Capacity of Central Educational Institutions (BES and MES) to Prepare the National Report on OECD PISA Results for Montenegro (submitted by MES). PISA is implemented every three years under the auspices of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development-OECD. The testing conducted in 2006 encompassed Montenegro, together with another 56 countries. The aim of developing a National Report is to situate the results in the sphere of mathematics, linguistics and science in the current context and recommend steps to improve the educational system. Expert consultants from Belgrade involved in this project were Aleksandar Baucal, PhD and Dragica Pavlović-Babić, MA. Amount allocated: 3,650.00 EUR.

  • Development of National Report on 2006 OECD PISA Results for Montenegro (submitted by MES). The report prepared by the team of MES and BES staff members should provide a detailed analysis of results of Montenegrin students in PISA testing and issue concrete recommendations to improve the situation in the educational system. Publication of the report is planned for May 2008. Amount allocated: 15,850.00 EUR (1,272 EUR remained from the 2006 budget and 14,578.00 EUR from the 2007 budget).

  • Support to PISA 2007 - 2009 (project submitted by the Examination Center).  The Examination Center is the educational institution in charge of implementing the new three-year cycle of preparation and implementation of PISA survey. Supporting this project is a way to assist development of mechanisms for evaluation and monitoring of the reform. Amount allocated: 2,864.75 EUR (remained funds from 2006).

4. Incorporation of Inclusion and Equality Issues as Important Indicators of Quality of the Educational System

  • Defining the Additional Criteria for the Categories of Special Educational Needs (project submitted by MES). The project consists of two stages: the first stage includes activities to establish a clear definition and criteria for determining the categories of special educational needs, while the second stage focuses on updating the database on children with special educational needs. A complete and precise database is a necessary precondition to address the issue of accessibility of educational system to all children in Montenegro. Amount allocated: 6,900.00 EUR.

  • Towards Inclusion in Secondary Education (project submitted by the Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro - UMHC). The project focuses on the creation and training of a team of trainers of the Association to transfer knowledge on the topics relevant for persons with disabilities (the language and terminology related to disabilities, the social model in approaching disability, equal opportunities etc). The participants will be provided skills needed to design and run workshops and training events for students, school psychologists and education specialists and take an active part in awareness raising campaigns on the rights and needs of persons with  disabilities. Amount allocated: 15,225.05 EUR.

5. Support to Transparency of the Reform Processes

  • BES Publications (submitted by BES). The project envisaged issuance of six professional BES publications compiled under the title "Our School" (available at www.osim.cg.yu). It is based on the experience accummulated by teachers and school principals during implementation of the reformed educational model and is intended to assist schools and professionals in further implementation of new curricula. Amount allocated: 12,000.00 EUR.

  • Presentation of the Study on National Testing of Learning Achievements of Third Grade Students in Mother Tongue and Mathematics and Presentation of the Upcoming Testing of the Reformed Third and Sixth Grade Students to be Conducted by the Examination Center (project submitted by BES). The project provided a presentation of results and analyses generated by the first comprehensive research conducted for a group of third graders taught according to old curriculum. The presentation was attended by a large number of school principals; on this occasion, they were also introduced to the concept of the upcoming external testing to be performed by the Examination Center. Amount allocated: 2,526.50 EUR.

  • Compilation of PISA Items (submitted by the Ministry of Education and Science). PISA tests cover the areas of reading, math and science. The design of items used in the testing fully complies with some of the key goals of educational reform, such as development of the ability to apply acquired knowledge and relate contents of different subjects and areas. This makes PISA items a very useful resource for testing student knowledge and achievement and a source of ideas for everyday teaching practice. Amount allocated: 3,120 EUR (remained funds from 2006).

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LAW PROGRAM

 

Program Coordinator: Tamara Srzentić

 

In accordance with the envisaged strategic committments for the Law Program, FOSI-ROM devoted special attention in 2007 to monitoring the implementation of European standards in the field of respect for human and minority rights and, to that aim, to enhancing the capacities of Montenegrin NGOs for more efficient and better monitoring of implementation of relevant legislation. Particular efforts were invested during the process of constitutional reform to articulate the positions in the (professional) public on certain aspects of constitutional matters related to the position of judicial authority and human and minority rights. FOSI-ROM continued its activities in the domain of fighting corruption by supporting further improvement of the legal framework that regulates transparency of political party financing and by activities for continuous monitoring of the degree and quality of implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information.

 

Total amount allocated to activities within the Law Program in 2007 was 102,846.50 EUR. 

 

In line with the above, the following projects were granted support through the four main segments within the Law Program in 2007:

 

1. Implementation of International Standards of Human Rights' Protection

  • In line with the strategic decision to work on enhancing capacities of the NGOs concerned with human rights, FOSI-ROM together with the NGO Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Warsaw, organized an assessment of needs and capacities of NGOs selected for participation in the program (in-house project). The training program would be implemented in the course of two years through a number of activities. Participants selected belong to the group of renowned NGOs dealing or planing to deal more intensively with human and minority rights.  Amount allocated: 3,764.31 EUR.

  • In 2007, FOSI-ROM continued its support to the projects aimed to educate judicial officials and other representatives of Montenegrin judiciary on  international standards in human rights protection. To this aim, FOSI-ROM allocated funds for three events organized by the NGO Center for Democracy and Human Rights. The seminar European Convention and Montenegrin Criminal Legislation - Right to a Fair Trial: Length of Proceedings, Presumption of Innocence and Equal Treatment of Parties was organized in early July 2007. It gathered relevant local and international professionals to discuss the ongoing reform of criminal legislation and implementation of provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights in national legislation. The seminar European Standards - Reform of Criminal Law and Law of Delict dealt with the  reform of law of delict, again in the light of the European Convention on Human Rights, The third event European Standards - Right to Peaceful Enjoyment of Property dealt with the right to peaceful enjoyment of property (Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights). The series of events was organized in cooperation with the AIRE Center, London, and funded in part by the Foreign Commonwealth Office, Westminster Foundation for Democracy and OESC. Total funds allocated for the events described:  23,675.00 EUR.

  • FOSI-ROM granted suport to the project ’Provision of Appropriate Human Rights Guarantees in the Constitution of Montenegro’ (submitted by the NGO Human Rights Action) as a logical follow-up to this NGO’s project previously funded within the Program of Support to Democratic Processes Following the Referendum. The project aims to provide expert comments to the new Constitution of Montenegro, which would then be compiled in a publication that would include - in addition to the comments and the Constitution - the opinion of the Venice Commission (adopted in the session held on 14 December 2007). The publication is planned to be distributed to all judges, prosecutors’ office, the Parliament, the Government and  representatives of the civil sector. The project also includes organization of a forum in February 2008. Amount allocated: 7,495.00 EUR.

2. Implementation of International Standards in Minority Rights Protection

  • In the domain of minority rights protection, FOSI-ROM together with King Baudouin Fondation, Brussels started implementation of the regional project ‘Minority Rights in Practice’ in Montenegro - in partnership with the coalition of four NGOs (Center for Democracy and Human Rights, Center for Human and Minority Rights, Nansen Dialog Center - Podgorica and Association of NGOs Libertask). The project aims to incite official institutions to work continuously on the adoption of more sensitive policies for minorities and issue relevant anti-discrimination legislation. The project combines diverse elements (analysis of curricula, monitoring access to education for minorities, public campaigns, continuous monitoring and analysis of national legislation that regulates the status and rights of minorities) and its ambition is to contribute to consistent work on  regulating the rights and status of minorities in practice (on municipal, regional and national level). Since King Baudouin Foundation had supported similar projects in other countries in the region, its share in funding the project was 30,000 EUR. FOSI-ROM allocated 32,551.89 EUR for core project expenses (17,551.89 EUR allocated from the Law Program and the remaining 15,000 EUR from the Program of Support to Democratic Processes Following the Referendum).

  • In order to present to the pubic the preliminary results of the project ’Minority Rights in Practice’, FOSI-ROM supported the project ’Minority Rights in the New Constitutional Context’ (submitted by the Association of NGOs ’Libertask’) that included a two-day forum to present project findings, discuss the current context and options to improve the legal framework that regulates the position of minorities. Amount allocated: 6,367.74 EUR.

3. Monitoring the Financing of Political Party

  • In 2007, FOSI-ROM continued its support ot the Monitoring Center (CEMI) so as to ensure continuity of activities aimed at amending the existing legal framework that defines the main elements of the system of political party financing in Montenegro. CEMI’s project ’Monitoring Political Party Financing in Montenegro - Advocating for a New Law’ refers to further lobbying for the adoption of a new Law on Political Party Financing and updating the database (on the income/sources of financing of political parties) established by CEMI with FOSI-ROM funding in 2005. Advocating for the adoption of the Draft Law on Political Party Financing implied continuous communication with the Parliament, international organizations and other stakeholders in the implementation of this Law, as well as participation in the work of relevant parliamentary commissions competent for consideration of Draft Law. Amount allocated: 8,271.92 EUR.

  • FOSI-ROM granted support to CEMI’s project ’Improved Transparency and Political Accountability in the Sphere of Political Party Financing’. In contrast with the project presented above, this project focused on further enhancing CEMI’s capacities to perform quality monitoring of transparency in the given sphere, by enabling study trips to Romanian NGOs with more extensive experience in this area. Upon recommendation of the network Human Rights and Governance Grants Program, study visits were arranged to Romanian Institute for Public Policies and Romanian Academic Society. Amount allocated: 11,661.11 EUR.

4. Promotion and Improvement of Implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information

  • For the purpose of further testing the degree and qaulity of implemntation of the Law on Free Access of Information, FOSI-ROM granted support to the project ’Free Access to Information on the Status of Environment in Montenegro’ (submitted by the NGO Network for Affirmation of NGO Sector - MANS). The aim of the project was to enhance free access to information on the status and qaulity of environment. MANS promoted the right to access to information  in this field by providing free legal assistance to citizens and NGOs in the process of collecting information on the status of environment in particularly endangered areas and publication of information obtained from state institutions. Citizens were provided free legal assistance in all other phases of the procedure related to the protection of the right to free access to information. Amount allocated: 8,370 EUR.

  • In recognition of the fact that, two years after the Law on Free Access to Information came into force, journalists still rarely exercised the rights granted by this Law (in order to access information of professional interest to them), FOSI-ROM granted support to the project ’Journalists as Beneficiaries of the Right to Access to Information’ (submitted by the NGO Association of Young Journalists) . The project included workshops aimed to present the mechanisms for free access to information to journalists working in different media involved in investigative journalism; the workshops also presented specific provisions of the Law on Free Access to Information and the procedures for the protection of right to free access to information. Amount allocated: 7,717.50 EUR.

  • FOSI-ROM supported the project ’Implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information in the Northern Region of Montenegro’ (submitted by the NGO Bonum, Pljevlja), with the aim to assess the quality of implementation of the Law in the northern Montenegrin municipalities. Following last year’s activities on the local level devoted to enhancing the level of information about the Law and the opportunities it provides, NGO Bonum continued its efforts by submitting requests to local authorities and promoting the legal provisions concerning free access to information. Amount allocated: 4,126.50 EUR.

  • In line with the findings of international and local organizations’ research on the quality of implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information, FOSI-ROM decided to grant support to the project titled ’Improved Legal Framework for Free Access to Information’ (submitted by the NGO Association of Young Journalists of Montenegro). The project aims to promote the institution of the commissioner and analyze the preconditions for introducing the commissioner as an intermediary between citizens and state authorities  in the exercise of the right to free access to information. The project envisages organization of a forum that would gather relevant representatives of state and judicial institutions and NGOs and provide comparative experiences concerning the functioning of the commissioner in the region (Slovenia). Amount allocated: 3,845.53 EUR.

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PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM

 

Program Coordinator: Bego Begu

 

With the aim to support the processes of decentralization and accession to the EU as well as implementation of a number of  laws that regulate this area, FOSI-ROM granted support in 2007 to activities that helped enhance the capacities of public administration and local government institutions so as to generate educated staff equipped with functional skills as future agent of reform and integration processes.  One segment of support was devoted to analysis of public policies in the sphere of compensation and career advancement in public administration. A special group of activities focused on strengthening local government capacities to provide services and plan sustainable development of local communities. In addition to the above, attention was devoted to present the structure and standards of the EU to local-level decision-makers and inform them about the impact of European integrations on diverse aspects of life in Montenegro.

 

Total amount of funds allocated for the activities within the Public Administration and Local Government Program in 2007 was 111,624.64 EUR. FOSI-ROM allocated 55,812.32 EUR and network OSI/LGI Program allocated 55,812.32 EUR.

 

1. Strengthening Public Administration Capacity

  • Report on "Public Administration - Salaries, Incentives, Motivation" (project submitted by the NGO  Alternative Institute). The project aimed to develop and present the first report-analysis of public policies related to the system of incentives and advancement in public administration, independent agencies and other institutions. The report with the preliminary title "Public Administration, Independent Agencies and Other Institutions: Comparison of Salaries, Incentives and Career Advancement" should provide an overview of the current constitutional provisions, legislation and regulations, relevant strategies and related papers, as well as a review of the provisions they contain that directly impact the position of the employees. It is to be published in the local language and in English and presented to the decision-makers at a roundtable organized for that purpose. The project includes training of representatives of the newly established NGO Alternative Institute on adjusting the methodology, creating a database of potential collaborators and creating a website. Amount allocated: 11,277.00 EUR.

  • Building the Capacity of the Examination Center to Conduct the External Graduation (Matura) Exam  (project submitted by the Examination Center of Montenegro). The Examination Center, as the instance in charge of external testing, is in charge of organizing the matura and vocational exams for students who attended secondary schools that applied new curricula. As of 2010, students that attended general-program secondary schools that applied new curricula will take the external matura exam, required in order to proceed to university. In order to be able to organize the exams according to the established international standards, the Examination Center initiated extensive preparatory activities, including definition of the methodology for conducting the exam, development of required materials, staff training and pilot exams. Amount allocated: 13,680.00 EUR.

  • Enhancing the Capacity of Staff Members of Educational Institutions to Conduct Research in the Field of Education (project submitted by the Ministry of Education and Science). The project provided staff members of the Ministry, Bureau for Educational Services, Examination Center and Center for Vocational Education with basic training on conducting research in the field of education. They were provided an initial five-day seminar, assistance in preparing and performing small-scale action research, and a conluding three-day seminar focused on analyzing research results and providing additional training as required. Conducting research in education is one of the main functions of the institutions participating in the project. Amount allocated: 5,710.00 EUR.

2. Strengthening Local Government Capacity

  • Purchase of Equipment for the Citizen Bureau in Rožaje (in-house project).  Establishment of the Citizen Bureau is the first step towards the creation of a unified information system for the Municipality of Rožaje. The system networks all municipal secetariats and departments, enabling faster and easier service provision to citizens. The Municipality adapted available office space for the Bureau,  while FOIS-ROM funded equipment purchase and installation. Amount allocated: 11,602.89 EUR.

  • Communication Training for the Personnel of Citizen Bureaus in Berane and Rožaje (project submitted by Civil Initiative, Berane). The municipalities of Berane and Rožaje decided to set up Citizen Bureaus to enable citizens to exercise their rights and meet their obligations in local government offices (submit requests, obtain certificates, pay local taxes and fees etc) in a more efficient manner. FOSI-ROM funded a two-day seminar on communication for the personnel of the two Bureaus; in addition, the participants were presented the experience of their colleagues from the Pljevlja Citizen Bureau. Amount allocated: 4,557.00 EUR.

  • Enhancing the Capacity of the Development Office of Pljevlja Municipality  (project submitted by the Municipality of Pljevlja). The project contributed to enhancing the human resources of the Development Office of Pljevlja Municipality by means of purchase and installation of computer equipment and software and staff training on the specific acivities to be performed by the Office. The local government in Pljevlja applied the new method of organization of work and operation in line with the Law on Local Government, introducing the division into the administrative and development section. Efforts to enhance human resources contribute to better organization and efficiency of the Office and the overall functioning of the local government. Amount allocated: 21,541.80 EUR.

  • Standards and Management of Protected Areas (project submitted by the NGO Green Home). In the light of the area of Prokletije being nominated for the fifth national park in Montenegro, Green Home undertook the effort to inform the local stakeholders in Plav Municipality about the key principles of sustainable development, management of natural resources, standards and obligations in this field. In addition, the project aimed to foster cooperation among local level services and institutions, NGOs and citizens, using preparatory meetings and training events for local government staff members, NGO and civil association activists and biology teachers from local schools. Amount allocated: 4,698.75 EUR.

  • Communal Police in my Municipality (project submitted by the Union of Montenegrin Municipalities). In line with the Law on Local Governance, most municipalities issued ordinances on the new service of communal police that should regulate the communal affairs pertaining to everyday life. However, some inconsistencies were identified that prevent implementation of the defined concept of communal police and that this project intended to help resolve. The project aimed to specify the distinction between the competences of communal police and the inspection; create the conditions for the establishment of efficient and professional communal police; clearly define the competences of communal police and the instance in charge of supervising their work; initiate amendment of ordinances on communal police; use a brochure to inform the citizens about the role of communal police in their municipalities. Amount allocated: 7,161.00 EUR.

  • Volunteer Services in Local Institutions (project submitted by the Association for Democratic Prosperity ZID). The concept of volunteerism was developed to support the idea of sustainable development of local communities. It implies employment of local resources and strengthened solidarity. The project  represents an effort to generate an understanding of volunteerism in the public - in particular among representatives of local institutions and local governments - and enable them to utilize it. ADP-ZID proposed to conduct a research on local institutions' openness and readiness for volunteer services, organize discussions with representatives of institutions from several municipalities (13 in total) and develop Volunteerism Development Policy that would incorporate the findings from the discussions. The target group includes representatives of local governments, relevant municipal departments and executive local institutions, as well as NGOs, whose cooperation on the local level may contribute to more efficient work and provision of services to citizens. Amount allocated: 9,582.60 EUR.

3. Enhancing the Expertise and Capacities of NGO Sector Representatives

  • Civil Dialog for the Purpose of Local Government (project submitted by the NGO Consensus). The project envisaged training for NGO activists in Mojkovac and Budva, intended to enhance their capacities for successsful dialog with local governments. The participants were presented the rights and responsibilities of citizens and local governments and developed techniques for establishing dialog between the two sides. Following the seminar, the participants agreed on the mechanisms for future cooperation with local government representatives. The project contributes to better understanding and better citizen participation in promoting democratic processes. Amount allocated: 3,888.00 EUR.

4. Presenting the EU Structure and Standards

  • The Fifth Generation of the School of Democratic Leadership: Panel on Decentralization, European Integrations and Gender Equality (project submitted by Nansen Dialog Center - Montenegro). The School of Democratic Leadership serves to enhance the knowledge and skills of 30 representatives of all parties represented in the Parliament, coming from different parts of the country, related to political organization and reforms. The School consists of four 4-5 day panels organzied by several international organizations present in Montenegro. FOSI-ROM funded one panel that included the following three seminars: Principles of Decentralization in line with European Practice, European Integration Process and Gender Equality in the European Integration Process. The School concluded with a final panel on the Perspectives of Development of Montenegrin Political Scene,  which included lectures by Srdjan Darmanović, Dean of the Faculty of Political Science, Podgorica, and Miroslav Hadžić, professor at the Faculty of Political Science, Belgrade and Board Chairman of the Center for Civil Military Relations. This served as the occasion to sum up and evaluate the activities implemented within this program and organize the ceremony of awarding certificates to the participants. Amount allocated: 17,925.60 EUR.

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CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (CDP)

 

Capacity Development Program - CDP is a partnership program of the Government of Montenegro, UNDP and FOSI-ROM. CDP was established in late 2003 with a mission to contribute to the development of institutional and administrative capacities of Montenegro for the European integration process.

The budget for the first phase of CDP (2003-2006) was provided by all three partners together with bilateral donors. The project paper that initiated the second phase of the program was signed in January 2007. The activities envisaged for this phase relate to strengthening the capacities of the Secretariat for European Integrations, the Parliament and certain ministries. The second phase is funded by the UNDP and bilateral donors, while FOSI-ROM’s support refers to participation in the strategic and executive bodies of CDP.

 

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WOMEN’S PROGRAM

 
Program Coordinator: Maja Kovačević

 

Key goals of FOSI-ROM’S Women’s Program in 2007 were: promotion of women’s rights; improving the position of women by means of educational and research initiatives and actions; inciting institutions to develop gender-sensitive policies. In 2007, Women’s program implemented activities in two priority areas: 1) Gender and Education, encompassing educational, research and information-documentation projects, and 2) Gender Integrations, focused on awareness raising/capacity development of NGOs and governmental institutions to develop gender-sensitive policies.

 

Total amount of funds allocated for the activities implemented within the Women’s Program was 27,010.40 EUR; out of this amount, 6,976.50 EUR was allocated by the Network Women’s Program.

 

1. Gender and Education

  • National STOP VAW Monitors (submitted by the NGO SOS Telephone for Women and Children Victims of Violence, Podgorica). The STOP VAW Monitors Project provides a virtual (internet) forum (www.stopvaw.org) for sharing information on violence against women and offers examples of good practice in advocating and initiating action to stop violence against women. The project is implemented in 29 countries, with national monitors collecting relevant information and forwarding it to the given internet portal. National monitors for Montenegro are Vanja Mikulić from the NGO SOS Telephone - Podgorica and Irena Milatović from the Government of Montenegro Gender Equality Office. The report developed within this project was presented to the European Parliament in May 2006. The report was presented to the public in December 2007 and is available in two languages on FOSI ROM website: www.osim.cg.yu. Amount allocated: 5,201.00 EUR (1,505.00 EUR remaining funds allocated to the same project in 2006 and 3,695.00 EUR from the 2007 budget).

  • Women Studies (project submitted by the NGO ANIMA - Center for Women and Peace Studies). The project envisaged organization of the interdisciplinary women studies course for the fifth generation of participants, encompassing the following topics: key concepts of feminism, language and gender, women's writing, women and peace movement, social construction of identity, law and women, women in transition, women and the media, violence against women, gender equality in European integrations etc.  FOSI-ROM has supported Women Studies Program since 2002; so far, the course has been attended by 150 participants from all parts of Montenegro. Amount allocated: 5,550.00 EUR (1,685EUR from funds remained from the allocation for the same project in 2006 and 3,865.99 EUR from the 2007 budget).

  • Handbook on Sexual and Reproductive Health (project submitted by the NGO Safe Women’s House). The project intends to provide young people with professional and objective information related to sexual and reproductive health and thus compensate, to an extent, for the lack of educational programs dealing with these issues in schools. Amount allocated: 16,264.50 EUR (10,000 EUR from Education Reform Program and 6,264.50 EUR from Women’s Program).

  • Enhancing the Awareness of Roma Girls from Nikšić, Podgorica and Berane on the Importance of Education (project submitted by the Center for Roma Initiatives, Nikšić.) The project focused on creating support in the Roma community for Roma girls to obtain education by raising the awareness among Roma mothers and girls about the importance of education. It included a series of workshops for Roma girls and their mothers, held in the three respective towns twice a week during a three-month period. The workshops presented the importance of education for the development and future life of Roma girls and encouraged them to complete their formal education. The project included creation of a database on Roma girls in primary and secondary schools, for the purpose of systematic monitoring of their education. Amount allocated: 3,730.00 EUR.

  • ANIMA Electronic Newsletter (project submitted by the NGO ANIMA - Center for Women and Peace Studies). The project includes creation and  distribution of an electronic newsletter that provides information about the current developments related to women NGOs in Montenegro, the region and globally, as well as the developments related to the issues of gender equality and human rights of marginalized groups. The newsletter promotes the concept and practice of gender equality and is the only electronic publication on women’s rights in the country. Amount allocated: 3,908 EUR.

2. Gender Integrations

  • Layout and Publication of the Report on the Implementation of the Principle of Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in Montenegro - EONET Project (in-house project). The report provides a comparative analysis of national legislation from the perspective of EU Directives on gender equality and proposes guidelines for harmonizing legislation with the EU recommendations concerning equal opportunities for women and men at workplace and in employment. Amount allocated: 984.91 EUR.

  • Status of Women's Rights in Montenegro 2007/8, Phases I and II (project submitted by the NGO ANIMA - Center for Women and Peace Studies).  Montenegro ratified the UN Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women - CEDAW in October 2006, and is required to submit to the UN Committee for Ellimination of Discrimination against Women a report on the status of women’s rights by March 2008. The project envisages development of the "shadow report", carried out by a team of activists from several women NGOs for the purpose of presenting the status of women’t rights in Montenegro in a quality and objective manner. Based on bothreports, the UN Committee generates recommendations, which serve as an important instrument to put presure on a state to develop and apply gende equality mechanisms.   The project includes collecting data related to all areas covered by the Convention, as well as preparing and implementing a comprehensive research on the perception of women’s rights in Montenegro. Amount allocated: 14,562.00 EUR (4,562 EUR from the Women’s Program and 10,000 EUR from the Program of Support to Democratic Processes Following the Referendum).

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ROMA PROGRAM

 

Program Coordinator: Tamara Srzentić

 

In line with the main orientation of Roma Program, reflected in the promotion and implementatino of the process of Decade of Roma Inclusion,  FOSI-ROM invested its efforts in 2007 in promoting the National Action Plan for the Decade and enhancing the capacities of Roma NGOs to take a more active part in monitoring relevant gvoernment policies concerning Roma. In addition, FOSI-ROM continued cooperation with the network European Union Monitoring and Advocacy Program in the sphere of  monitoring implementation of the education policy segment related to Roma and, in that sense, the quality of access to education for Roma children. In 2007, Roma Program also aimed to incite relevant state institutions to establish a system for continous monitoring of results in particular areas of activity concerning Roma.

 

Total amount of funds invested in the activities implemented through the Roma Program in 2007 was 49,140.58 EUR; out of the given amount, 10,714.74 EUR was allocated from FOSI-ROM budget, 33,240 EUR was allocated by Roma Initiatives Office, Budapest and 5,185.84 EUR by EUMAP (European Union Monitoring and Advocacy Program).

  • With the aim to evoke the obligations of the state articulated in the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Decade of Roma Inclusion and analyze the quality of its implementation, FOSI-ROM organized the Round Table on the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005 - 2015 (in-house project), on May 23, 2007. This event involved representatives of Roma and non-Roma NGOs, line ministries and international organizations in order to consider the results accomplished in  implementing the Action Plan and the mechanisms to efficiently meet the obligations derived from the strategic papers adopted on the national level. Amount allocated: 933.74 EUR.

  • Round Table on "Equal Access to Quality Education for Roma in Montenegro" (in-house project).  During 2006 and 2007 the Foundation took an active part in the monitoring project "Equal Access to Education for Roma", implemented by the network OSI European Union Monitoring and Advocacy Program (EUMAP), Budapest together with the OSI Education Support Program, Budapest. The project focused on monitoring the impact of relevant national Roma education programs in the countries participating in the Decade of Roma Inclusion, with special emphasis on desegregation policy. The project aimed to promote participation and cooperation with the NGO sector in defining the priorities of the national education policy. Within the project, the four-member team from Montenegro developed the first draft of the report, which included an assessment of the quality of education of Roma children in the country and recommendations to relevant agents regarding the ways to improve the approach. FOSI-ROM provided the logistics and EUMAP the funding in order to present the draft to the professionals at the round table held in Podgorica on 25 June, 2007. Comments and suggestions obtained at the round table will be used in the development of the final report to be published in January 2008. Amount allocated: 5,185.84 EUR.

  • Civil Registration of Members of Roma Population (project submitted by the NGO Initiative for Cooperation and Development - IDC Montenegro). The project focused on assisting domicile and refugee Roma in the municipalities of Podgorica, Nikšić and Bar to obtain papers necessary for them to acquire certain rights. FOSI ROM covered the expenses of overall coordination of main program activities, including hiring of Roma assistants in the three given municipalities, coordination of their activities, overall project coordination and the core expenses related to project promotion and implementation. More comprehensive registration of Roma remains one of the necessary preconditions for their better integration and overall participation in the society. Amount allocated: 5,996 EUR.

  • Roma Inclusion - Options on the Local Level (project submitted by the NGO Roma Scholarship Foundation).  Having recognized the interest in promoting the  goals of the Decade of Roma Inclusion on the local level, FOSI-ROM granted support to this project intended to enable stakeholders from different sectors (municipalities, business sector, international community, NGO sector) to become better acquainted with the limitations and options in the process of the Decade and with the prospects provided by the new Strategy for Roma. The aim of the event organized in cooperation with the Union of Montenegrin Municipalities, Ministry for the Protection of Human and Minority Rights and the newly established Roma National Council, in the first quarter of 2008, is to foster local consideration/debate related to development of local mechanisms to improve the position of Roma. The project includes publication of 1,000 copies of integral text of the Strategy and additional documents. Amount alocated: 3,785 EUR.

  • Having recognized the limited financial and human resource capacities of Roma civil sector to successfully address the main challenges of their social position, FOSI-ROM, together with OSI Budapest Roma Initiatives Office, provided alternative resources for the purpose of enhancing the capacity of Roma NGOs in Montenegro. The project titled "Capacity Development of Roma NGOs in Montenegro", intended to take 12 months, envisages establishemnt of an office for the NGO coalition titled Roma Circle, employment of ful-time staff, continuous coordination fo activities and, in relation to that, training of Roma NGOs on strategic planning and advocacy. The project was funded by the network OSI Roma Initiatives, Budapest, the amount allocated equalling: 33, 240 EUR.

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EAST EAST PROGRAM

 

Program Coordinator: Tamara Srzentić

 

Total amount allocated by the network East-East program in 2007 was 68,351.08 EUR.

 

Through the regional network East East Program (which fosters different forms of regional cooperation for the purpose of exchange of ideas, experiences and expertise), FOSI ROM enabled implementation of the following regional projects in Montenegro during 2007:

  • NGO Juventas project titled "Tolerant Youth". implemented in partnership with the NGOs Why Not from Sarajevo and Youth Initiative for Human Rights from Belgrade. The project aimed to enable analysis of optimum models to promote interethnic tolerance among young people in the region and exchange experience and consider possible courses of action in order to raise young people's awareness of the importance of tolerance and reconciliation in the region.  Following the preliminary meeting of partner organizations (held at Cetinje in early July 2007), project partners collected the existing relevant research and conducted a new research in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and  Serbia. Project outcomes were presented at the partner organizations' meeting held in November 2007 and published in "Tolerant Youth - Creating the Space Between: Beyond and After Borders". Amount allocated: 9,900 EUR.

  • Forum "Understanding NATO" - this project submitted by Nansen Dialog Center, Podgorica was intended to provide regional experience and expertise in the NATO accession process and facilitate a public debate on the essence of the process of Euro-Atlantic integrations and its consequences. The project aimed to gather relevant professionals and civil sector representatives from Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia and Macedonia to discuss experiences from the region and elsewhere and contribute to the transparency of the public debate on accession to NATO. The forum was organized in October 2007. Amount allocated: 9,325 EUR.

  • "Regional Framework for Cooperation and European Integrations", to be implemented in Montenegro by the NGO European Movement in Montenegro, is part of a bigger regional project designed by 7 partner organizations from South East Europe/Western Balkans and aimed at promoting the importance of regional cooperation on the road to the EU. The publication that is intended to be one of the immediate project outputs (and to be translated to all languages spoken in the region and to English) will be presented at info-points in the countries included in the project (Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia). The aim was to raise the awareness in the public and among decision-makers about the need for more intensive regional cooperation (not only between citizens and NGOs, but also between municipalities, academic institutions, media and business sector representatives).  East East granted support to the project segment related to Montenegro. Amount allocated: 3,819.21 EUR.

  • Through the East East Program, the NGO Green Home was granted support to implement two bilateral projects. Project titled "Regional Cooperation in the Domain of More Efficient Use of Energy and Renewable Energy Sources" aimed to promote alternative energy sources and included a presentation of Croatian experience in this domain through a series of study visits and professional contacts with Green Action, partner organization from Croatia. (11, 801 EUR). Montenegrin-Albanian project titled "Sustainable Development of the Cijevna River" (2,630 EUR) aimed to promote natural and cultural resources of the border area in the valley of the Cijevna River by means of developing an environmental study that would provide adequate recommendations for sustainable and environmentally sound development of this area. The project included organization of two workshops for the purpose of the participatory process and to include local stakeholders and articulate their opinions. The project is important from the perspective of establishing cross-border economic cooperation, as well as a good starting point for other forms of cooperation in this geographic area that belongs to the two countries. The study is planned to be presented in Montenegro and Albania. Project expenses of the partner organization from Albania were also covered by the East East Program (through Open Society Foundation Albania).

  • Within the regional project "Western Balkans Network for Inclusive E-Government", implemented by a number of NGOs in several countries in the region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia), the Institute for Strategic Studies and Prognosis was granted support to implement the project segment related to Montenegro. The project deals with the issue of IT development and its role in improving citizen participation in the decision-making process. The project will include a regional conference in Skoplje, aimed to produce an assessment of the situation on the regional level and provide reccommendations to help governments in the region and facilitate their meeting the obligations on the way to the EU. One part of the expenses granted within this project refers to ISSP representative’s participation in the preliminary meeting of project partners held in Skoplje in November 2007. Amount allocated: 6,556.50 EUR.

  • East East Program supported the project "Institutional Mechanisms to Prevent Violence against Women and Their Implementation on the Regional Level", implemented by the NGO SOS Telephone for Women and Children Victims of Violence, Podgorica. The project included organization of a regional conference (November 2007) to discuss current legal options concerning prevention of violence against women, exchange experience in this field and provide reccommendations/proposals to the authorities working on developing the Law on Domestic Violence and to the professional implementing measures of protection in cases of violence against women. Amount allocated: 14,760 EUR.

East-East Program enabled participation of Montenegrin experts in the work of  the following international events organized under the auspices of this Program:

 

Event

Time

Place

Participants

Amount allocated

Fostering Transparency, Accountability and Public Integrity in the Western Balkans

1-4 March, 2007

Belgrade, Serbia

Zlatko Vujović (NGO CEMI, Podgorica)

Batrić Krvavac (NGO MANS, Podgorica)

427.00

Assessment for Enhancing Quality, Equal Access and Accountability in Education

23-24 March, 2007

Kiev, Ukraine

Vesna Lazović (National Examination Center)

Verica Sekulić (National Examination Center)

1,877.98

Young public servants in Southeastern Europe: Preparation for EU Accession

12-17 June, 2007

Varna, Bulgaria

Aleksandar Pejović (Montenegrin Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

924.58

South East Europe Heritage: Misuse in Political and Ideological Causes

2-5 July, 2007

Ohrid, Macedonia

Aleksandra Kapetanović (NGO Expeditio, Kotor)

Joško Kaštelan (NGO Notar, Kotor)

745.00

Best Practices in Promoting Voluntary and Non-Remunerated Blood Donation

20-23 September, 2007

Poiana Brasov, Romania

Mirjana Savićević (Center for Blood Transfusion, Clinical Center of Montenegro)

446.90

South East European Pipeline Network

28-30 September, 2007

Sisak, Croatia

Jelena Mugoša (NGO Green Home, Podgorica)

Batrić Krsmanović (NGO MOST, Žabljak)

797.44

Implementation of Optional Protocol of Convention against Torture

12-13 November, 2007

Yerevan, Armenia

Slobodan Franović (Montenegrin Helsinki Committee for Human Rights)

879.08

Open Questions that Require Answers among Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and Serbia

11-12 November,  2007

Belgrade, Serbia

Danilo Bošković (European Law Students’ Association - ELSA)

Rajko Radević (CEDEM)

435.00

EU Accession Monitor

21-24 November, 2007

Prague, Czech Republic

Neđeljko Rudović (Vijesti Daily Paper)

Aida Ramusović (Radio Antena M) 

1,297.69

Strengthening the role of civil society in social inclusion

28 - 30 November, 2007

Sarajevo, BiH

Jasmina Vojnović (Center for Development of NGOs)

510.00

Start Negotiating­/Developing Intercultural Dialogue: University Students in the Western Balkans Region

27 Nov - 

2Dec,  2007 and

19-23 Dec, 2007

Kopaonik, Serbia

Zlatko Vujović (NGO Monitoring Center)

Milena Kalezić

Andrijana Nikić

Nina Bojadžić

Belkiša Zoronjić

Danilo Knežević

Senja Radović

(NGO Juventas, Podgorica)

1,218.70

 

 

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PROGRAM OF SUPPORT TO DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES FOLLOWING THE REFERENDUM

 

Program Coordinators: Tamara Srzentić, Maja Kovačević and Bego Begu

 

Total amount allocated for the projects implemented within the Program of Support to Democratic Processes Following the Referendum in 2007 was 170,055.01 EUR.

 

  • Conference on the Position and Sustainability of NGOs in Montenegro (in-house project). In October 2007, FOSI ROM organized the Conference on the Position and Sustainability of the NGO sector. After the referendum, this sector, with its role of promoter, monitor and critic of social changes, is awarded the opportunity to strengthen its status in the society and exert more influence on policy development and implementation. The participants discussed the necessary modifications of the Law on NGOs and the legislative framework for finance and taxation and were presented experiences of the NGO sector in the region. They were also presented the perspectives for the NGO sector in the course of the accession process and upon joining the EU. Around one hundred representatives of eighty of the most active Montenegrin NGOs took part in this event. Nine topics were discussed and presented by local and regional experts: legal status of NGOs, funding (funds and tax policy), code of ethics, philanthropy, voluntarism, services in social welfare and education, sustainability, watchdog and think-tank organizations. The Conference generated recommendations for the Government, local governments and NGOs. It included a fair of NGO publications. Amount allocated: 39,933.49 EUR.

  • Improved Activity of NGO Sector in Montenegro - Electronic Library of NGO Publications (project submitted by the Center for Development of NGOs - CRNVO). With the aim to improve comunication among NGOs and in line with the recommendations generated at the Conference on the Position and Sustainability of NGO Sector, the project provides NGOs and citizens with direct access to information and publications. Although NGOs produce a considerable number of publications and research papers, organizations and the general public are not well-acquainted with many of them and therefore remain deprived of information  that may help them improve their work in certain areas and become more aware of the problems and circumstances relevant for the NGOs working in other areas. Amount allocated: 8,657.86 EUR.

  • Transparency of Work of NGOs - Annual Report of NGOs Signatories to the Code of Ethics (project submitted by the NGO Coalition "Cooperation Towards the Goal"). In line with the findings of the Conference on the Position and Sustainability of NGO Sector, the project aims to establish the publication of annual financial and programmatic reports of NGOs. Amount allocated: 7,218.00 EUR.

  • Monitoring Implementation of the Law on Consumer Protection (project submitted by the Center for Consumer Protection - CEZAP). Adoption of the Law on Consumer Protection is to be followed by development of regulations aimed to put consumer protection in compliance with the EU standards. The project included the following activities:

    - Development of Draft National Program for Consumer Protection, expert debate and publication of this document;

    - Lobbying with the Government of Montenegro to establish a standing body within the line ministry that would deal with the issues of consumer protection;

    -Constant taking in and resolving of consumer complaints, along with advisory services of CEZAP's experts.

    The National Program for Consumer Protection is intended to elaborate all the aspects of consumer protection policy in Montenegro and set the rules for all entities actively involved in the implementation of this policy. Amount allocated: 16,752. 35 EUR (Together with the funds remained from the Educational Campaign on the Implementation of the Law on Consumer Protection of  2,941, the total budget for this project was 19,693.35 EUR.)

  • Student Training and Competition in Writing Business Plans (project submitted by Youth Association "Test"). The project involves training in writing business plans, in the context of support to the development of small- and medium-size businesses and entrepreneurship and reducing unemployment among the young people in Montenegro.  The students who provide the best business ideas at the competition receive training by the teachers of the Faculty of Economics, representatives of successful Montenegrin companies, banking sector and  the Government.  After the training, the candidates revise their business plans and the jury (consisting of marketing, finance, banking, management and leadership specialists) selects three plans to be presented to investors. Amount allocated: 6,730.30 EUR.

  • Lectures by Dr Elizabeth  Merklinger (in-house project). Dr Elizabeth Schotten Merklinger, a Canadian expert on  Islamic culture  and art,gave two lectures at the Carver Bookstore in Podgorica in early October, on "Islamic Ceramics"and "Four Famous Examples of Islamic Architecture". The lectures were accompanied by a presentation of adequate illustrations. Amount allocated: 646.01 EUR.

  • Political Public Opinion in Montenegro 2007 (project submitted by the Center for Democracy and Human Rights CEDEM). The project includes continuous quarterly opinion polls in Montenegro and in-depth analyses of the results of tendencies in public opinion; the results are posted on the website and around 300 copies are published in both local and English language. In 2007, the researchers devoted particular attention to the attitudes concerning judiciary, education and local government reforms; level of trust in  institutions, political parties and leaders; institutions such as the EU and NATO. Polls were conducted throughout the country, using a sample of one thousand respondents that reflected regional, ethnic, social and other relevant characteristics of the population. Amount allocated: 24,640.00 EUR.

  • MMI 2007/2008 School of Journalism (project submitted by the Montenegro Media Institute). MMI School of Journalism was established in 2003 as the first training course in the field of journalism in Montenegro. It was set up in response to the growing need  for trained young journalists following the expansion of the media community in Montenegro. Due to the MMI relocation, the 2007/2008 School of Journalism will be organized between January and July 2008 at the new premises to be adjusted to MMI needs. The project refers to provision of adequate conditions for the School, in particular the practical assignments of its participants. MMI has computers and a TV and radio studio that need to be installed. Amount allocated: 5,800.00 EUR.

  • Status of Women’s Rights in Montenegro in 2007/8, Phases I and II (project submitted by the NGO Anima - Center for Women and Peace Studies). Amount allocated: 14,562.00 EUR (10,000 EUR allocated from the Program of Support to Democratic Processes Following the Referenduma, and 4,562 EUR from the Women’s Program).

  • Minority Rights in Practice (project submitted by the Center for Democracy and Human Rights, Center for Human and Minority Rights, Nansen Dialog Center - Podgorica and Union of NGOs Libertask). In the domain of human rights, FOSI ROM together with the King Baudouin Foundation, Brussels, started implementation of this regional project in Montenegro. The project aims to foster continuous work of official  institutions on the adoption of anti-discrimination policies and laws. It combines different elements (analysis of educational programs; monitoring minorities’ access to education;   public campaigns; continuous monitoring and analysis of domestic legislation regulating the status and rights of minorities) and its ambition is to make a contribution to consistent efforts on regulating minority rights and status in practice (at municipal, regional and national level). King Baudouin Foundation granted 30,000 EUR and FOSI-ROM granted 32,551.89 EUR to this project (17,551.89 EUR from the Law Programa and 15,000 EUR from Support to Democratic Processes Following the Referendum).

  • Seminar on "Prohibition of Discrimination - European Standards" (project submitted by the NGO Center for Democracy and Human Rights - CEDEM). The  seminar on prohibition of discrimination was organized in April 2007 as a forum for expert exchange of opinion on the mechnisms for prevention from/protection against discrimination, in the full swing of public debate on Draft Constitution of Montenegro. In addition to local presenters, the seminar was attended by renowned international experts, with the aim to acquaint representatives of Montenegrin judicial institutions with European standards in the domain of combatting discrimination and with concrete mechanisms for protectino against discrimination in the sense of the European Convention on Human Rights. This was the fourth seminar in the series organized by CEDEM in 2007 and supported by FOSI-ROM together with AIRE Center, London. Part of the funding for this project was provided by OSCE, Foreign Commonwealth Office, UK Government and Westminster Foundation for Democracy. Amount allocated: 7,300 EUR.

  • Proposal for the Reform of the Election of Judges in Montenegro - Specification of the Criteria, Procedure, Competences and Legal Remedies (project submitted by the NGO Action for Human Rights ). The project aimed to propose, in the context of constitutional reform, the criteria for the election and career advancement of judges. The project was subsequently added proposals of constitutional provisions in the domain of human rights (i.e. Comments to Draft Constitution), compiled by the Action for Human Rights on behalf of the interested representatives of the NGO sector that the Foundation forwarded to the Council of Europe Venice Commission.  The ultimate goal of the Project was to contribute to the harmonization of Montenegrin laws with the European standards that call for finalization of  judiciary reform plans, transfer of control over recruitment and career advancement of judges from the competences of the Parliament and establishment of transparent procedures based on professional and objective criteria for election and advancement. The final stage of the project included a conference on the given topics and a publication "Proposal for the Reform of the Election of Judges in Montenegro". Amount allocated: 7, 516 EUR.

  • The Process of Adoption of the Constitution of Montenegro and the Requirements Concerning Respect for Human Rights (project submitted by the NGO Montenegrin Helsinki Committee for Human Rights). The project represented an effort to make an impact, in the process of adopting the Constitution, on the final provisions concerning human and minority rights, considering that this process required a more intense promotion of adequate provisions that comply with the international standards. In 2007, the five-member team established by the Montenegrin Helsinki Committee implemented activities focused on incorporating in the Constitution the complete corpus of established human rights and fundamental freedoms recognized by the democratic states and on consistent compliance with the prohibition on decreasing the level of already acquired rights. Amount allocated: 6,600 EUR.

  • Strengthening Youth Activism (NGO Youth Initiative for Human Rights).Since the issue of strengthening youth activism in Montenegro was recognized as an element for  their improved social participation, FOSI-ROM granted supported to this project of the Youth Initiative aimed to gather a group of young people and, through two consecutive forums, provide the preconditions for their more active participation in the decision-making processes at the local and national level. The forums focused on topics such as: the fundamental values of civil society, values promoted by the EU, local and international instruments of human rights protection and the concept and mechanisms of transitional justice; in addition, attention was devoted also to methods for implementation of social actions in the local community. Amount allocated: 10,320 EUR.

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