1. Conference on "Human Rights in Independent Montenegro: the Challenges"
The Conference will be held in mid-February 2007, and will be organized by the Foundation, Montenegrin Helsinki Committee and International Helsinki Federation, Vienna. Representatives of international institutions, the judiciary, relevant NGOs and state institutions will consider the situation related to the exercise and protection of human rights in Montenegro. The Conference is expected to indicate the directions and instruments for further exercise of human rights. Conference conclusions will be delivered to all relevant institutions concerned with human rights in Montenegro and the region. Conference presentations and conclusions will be issued in a publication.
2. Round Table on Organization of Judiciary Power in the Future Constitution of Montenegro
At the round table to be held in January 2007, representatives of the judiciary, Ministry of Justice, law practice and prosecution will exchange opinions on the possible legal provisions defining the position of the judiciary. The need for a project of this kind, implemented by the Center for Rule of Law, was identified at the conference "The New Constitution - Character, Principles and Provisions in the Area of Democracy and Human Rights". The conference was held in November 2006 within the project "Civil Society in the Dialogue on the Future of Montenegro", implemented by the Center for Development of NGOs, and supported by the Foundation.
3. The Judiciary and the Media - A Step Towards Better Reporting on Criminal Procedure
Together with the Montenegro Media Institute, the Foundation provides training for a group of twelve journalists reporting from the courts. The training includes: theoretical background and practical work, including a simulation exercise, a 15-day distance learning program, and the final training. The training will be conducted by the Montenegro Media Institute instructors and competent experts from the police, prosecutors' office, law practice and judiciary.
4. Upgrading Judicial Protection in the Exercise of the Right to Free Access to Information
The projects encompasses a seminar for the Administrative Court representatives on current practices in procedures related to actions concerning access to information, as well as further provision of free legal aid in cases of violation of the right to free access to information. The project includes printing additional 1,500 copies of the "Guide to the Law on Free Access to Information with Forms for Practical Implementation", with added examples from jurisprudence and updated information on the institutions that most frequently receive requests for access to information. This Guide was published within the project supported by the Foundation.
5. Manual for the Implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information
The Ministry of Culture, Sport and Media, responsible for the implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information, will print, supported by the Foundation, a Manual regarding the implementation of this law in practice. In addition to the interpretations of current legal provisions, the Manual will include a list of public authorities in Montenegro before which it is possible to exercise the right to free access to information. It will be translated into English, Albanian and Roma, in 2,000 copies. The Manual will be used by the civil servants working in public authorities in charge of complying with requests to access information, as well as the citizens, NGOs and media.
1. Round Table: Exercise of Human Rights before the Judicial Institutions in Montenegro Round Table: Exercise of Human Rights before the Judicial Institutions in Montenegro
The project refers to the round table to be held 17 - 18 November 2006: representatives of state institutions, judiciary, lawyers and NGOs involved in the protection of human rights will consider the exercise of human rights and freedoms in Montenegro since 2003. They are expected to suggest directions for further improvement of this important segment of the functioning of rule of law, considering that in early 2007 Montenegro should become member of the Council of Europe and ratify the European Convention on Human Rights. The event is organized by CEDEM in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Foundation, while FOSI ROM covers part of the expenses.
1. Position and Role of the Constitutional Court in the Light of the Implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights
The project refers to the organization of an expert gathering where constitutional court justices from Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro would exchange ideas and share experiences and discuss the possibilities for future cooperation. The ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights and the new competences of the Constitutional Court of Montenegro in the context of the constitutional reform impose the need for such cooperation since the constitutional courts of Slovenia and Croatia already have experience in the implementation of the European Convention. The participants at the event to be held in September 2006 in Budva will be five justices and seven advisors of the Constitutional Court of Montenegro, as well as five justices/representatives of the constitutional courts from Slovenia and Croatia each.
2. Use the Right to Information
This project is implemented in the northern region and promotes the Law on Free Access to Information and is a follow up of a similar project implemented in Pljevlja and Rozaje in June 2006. In the municipalities of Berane, Bijelo Polje and Plav, the NGO Bonum will organize workshops for the representatives of local governments, local nongovernmental organizations and other institutions and legal entities with public authorities, and for the public. Bonum will inform the public of the new provisions relating to free access to information also by distributing the publication at info-points in the given three towns as well as in Zabljak, Mojkovac and Pljevlja. The interested will be offered the recently published "Guide for the Law on Free Access to Information" and the leaflet that the NGO Association of Young Journalists distributed in December 2005 as a supplement to the daily "Vijesti", this time with some additional items. Both the guide and the leaflet have been published within the projects supported by the Foundation.
3. Monitoring of Political Parties Financing 2006
The project should enable that the draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Financing Political Parties, that was prepared by CEMI in cooperation with the Directorate for Anticorruption Initiative and sent to the Council of Europe for the expert opinion, to become the Draft Law which, after the signatures of the citizens have been collected, would be proposed to the Parliament for adoption. The project includes the organization of a round table that is aimed at presenting to the wider public and parliamentary parties the Draft Law. Also within the project, CEMI is updating the database on sources of finances to political parties and issuing the annual report on financing political parties at the end of the year. This is a continuation of the project which is being implemented several years already and includes monitoring the implementation of existing provisions relating to financing political parties, suggesting possible amendments to legislation, updating database on financing political parties. The Foundation has supported previous projects in 2004 and 2005.
Publication: Financing of political parties in Montenegro - Report for year 2006 4. Bulletin "Human Rights in Europe"
Judge Training Centre, in cooperation with AIRE Centre from London, prepares, publishes and distributes the bulletin entitled "Human Rights in Europe" to judicial bodies in Montenegro from July - December 2006. The Bulletin contains summaries of most recent judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, with brief comments explaining their implications on existing European standards in the field of human rights.
1. Presentation of the "Guide through the Law on Free Access to Information with Samples of Forms"
The "Guide through the Law on Free Access to Information with Samples of Forms" in a popular manner informs the public about the specific legal provisions, providing guidance for obtaining relevant information from public bodies and institutions, offering samples of forms and the address book of authorities to which the request for free access to information may be addressed. The project refers to making the public aware of the existence of the guide. On 17th May 2006 the Association of Young Journalists of Montenegro presented the guide to journalists, representatives of non-governmental organizations and authorities that are to apply the Law on Free Access to Information. Apart from these expenses, the Foundation also covers the expenses associated with broadcasting and publication of information on the guide on TV and in dailies. The manual is accessible at the web site of the Association of Young Journalists. The Foundation previously supported the project entitled "Preparation and implementation of the Law on free access to information".
1. The New Law for the New Times
The project aims to familiarize the students of the Faculty of Law in Podgorica with the most recent practices in the criminal legislation reform in Montenegro through nine round table discussions in the coming nine months. Each event will cover certain current legal solutions from the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code or will open discussion on certain issues stipulated by other legislation from the criminal law field. The project also involves the publication of presentations from the round tables. The project is implemented by ELSA Montenegro, a branch of the International Law Student Association, in cooperation with the Criminal Law Department at the Faculty of Law in Podgorica.
2. Implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information at the local level
NGO Bonum organizes workshops in Pljevlja and Rozaje to familiarize the local authorities with specific duties stemming from the Law on Free Access to Information. The workshop participants are the representatives of the local assembly, local non-governmental organizations, and other institutions and legal entities having public authorities, as well as the citizens. The project involves broadcastings at Radio Pljevlja and Radio Rozaje on the occasion of workshops.
3. National STOP VAW Monitors - a joint project of OSI - Budapest, Minnesota Human Rights Advocates and UNIFEM
The website Stop Violence Against Women - STOP VAW (www.stopvaw.org), launched by Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, supported by UNIFEM and OSI Network Women’s Program, serves to exchange information and provide tools for advocacy and initiating actions to prevent violence against women. National monitors from 29 countries gather information in the field and send it to the STOP VAW website. The monitors for Montenegro are Vanja Mikulic from NGO SOS line - Podgorica and Irena Milatovic from the Gender Equality Office. The Foundation supports the work of the monitors, the presentation of the STOP VAW to women’s NGOs and the domestic public, and the publication and presentation of the monitors’ reports that are to be submitted to the European Parliament in May 2006. In 2005 the Foundation also supported the work of the national STOP VAW monitors.
[The Foundation supported this project also through its Women’s Program with EUR 2,700, or the total of EUR 5,780]
1. Professional discussions: Montenegro and EU
The project stemmed from the endeavours to inform the public, thoroughly and in a timely manner, on European integrations and their impact on diverse aspects of life in Montenegro. Through five same-day seminars/workshops, the editors and journalists of the public and commercial media in Montenegro will have the opportunity consider the impact of EU accession process on the Montenegrin economy, agriculture, social policy, environment, and protection of human rights. The lecturers will be national experts in the field and experienced journalists from the region (Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia) The Montenegro and EU project envisages the seminars on following topics: - Local echo of European economic stories - Montenegrin agriculture in the light of EU accession - Employment policy and social security in the light of EU accession - Protection of human rights in the light of EU accession - Environmental protection in the light of EU accession
[The Foundation has also supported this project through the European Program with EUR 7,093.60 and program Public Administration and Local Government with EUR 2,376.20, which comes to the total of EUR 11,651]
1. Seminar: European Convention on Human Rights and the Right to Freedom of Enjoyment of One's Possessions
A new seminar in the series of expert meetings addressing the European Convention on Human Rights is devoted to the right to freedom of the enjoyment of one’s possessions. In the organization of the AIRE Centre, the Council of Europe, Judicial Training Center and CEDEM, eminent European lawyers who have represented parties before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and Montenegrin lawyers facing the cases of violation of the right to free and unimpeded use of one’s property will present their experience on March 3 and 4, 2006. Comparing their experience, the participants are expected to give suggestions and recommendations on how the case-law in Montenegro can come closer to the binding European standards. Besides the Foundation, the Foreign Commonwealth Office, Council of Europe and Westminster Foundation for Democracy financially supported the project.
2. Professional Discussions: Media and Society
The project refers to the organization of a meeting "Professional Discussions: Media and Society", held on January 23, 2006, where representatives of media houses, media experts, lawyers and representatives of governmental and international institutions discussed the two researches: "Attitudes and perception of citizens on media reporting on the EU and EU accession process" and "Who is informing the citizens of Montenegro?" (a research on the application of the new Law on Free Access to Information). The researches and the discussion was organized by the Montenegro Media Institute. The project objective was to determine the role of the media in democratization, to improve the professional and ethical standards in journalism and to stimulate professional and public debate on the media. The Foundation retroactively supported a part of the expenses of this year’s meeting, as well as the previous meeting "Media and Society", which the MMI traditionally organizes on the Journalists' Day in Montenegro.
[The Foundation has also supported this project through the European Program with EUR 2,340.32, which comes to the total of EUR 3,506.32]
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||