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PROGRAM ACTIVITIES |
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ACTIVITIES IN 2007: |
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1. Costs of FOSI ROM Law Program Evaluation - Expenses of the Evaluator, Mr. Bogdana Ivanišević
(In-house project) EUR 3,164.96
[2,060.41EUR from the network Human Rights and Governance Grants Program; total amount EUR 5,225.37]
2. Improved Legal Framework for Free Access to Information
(NGO Association of Young Journalists of Montenegro) EUR 3,845.53
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 includes 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).
By supporting this project, FOSI ROM contributes to better implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information.
3. Implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information in the Northern Region of Montenegro
(NGO Bonum, Pljevlja) EUR 4,126.50
The project is intended to assess the quality of implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information in the northern Montenegrin municipalities.
Following last year's local level activities devoted to enhancing the level of information about the Law and the opportunities it provides, NGO Bonum continues by submitting requests to local authorities and promoting the legal provisions concerning free access to information.
The project is implemented in the municipalities of Pljevlja, Plav and Berane. NGO Bonum is screening the situation related to implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information and organizing public debates. Situation analysis was presented at the press conference held in Podgorica on 25 March, 2008.
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Plav, Berane, Pljevlja, 18-20 March, 2008 - Public discussion
4. Provision of Appropriate Human Rights Guarantees in the Constitution of Montenegro
(NGO Human Rights Action) EUR 7,495
The project aims to provide expert comments to the new Constitution of Montenegro; the comments would 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 will 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.
This Human Rights Action project is a follow up to Proposal for Reform of the Election of Judges in Montenegro, previously supported by the Foundation.
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Podgorica, 28 February, 2008 - Round table: International Human Rights Standards and Constitutional Guarantees (Photo Gallery»»)
Publication: International Human Rights Standards and Constitutional Guarantees in Montenegro
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MEDIA ABOUT THE PROJECT:
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Daily "Vijesti" - 29 February 2008
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Daily "Pobjeda" - 29 February 2008
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Daily "Dan" - 29 February 2008
5. Enhancing the Transparency and Political Accountability in the Sphere of Political Party Financing
(NGO Monitoring Center - CEMI, Podgorica) EUR 11,661.11
CEMI is working on Draft Law on the Financing of Political Parties that would incorporate current standards in this field and relevant recommendations of the Council of Europe and address the findings from the 2007 European Commission monitoring report.
The project is a follow up to the activities supported by FOSI ROM in 2007. The project resulted in Bill Law on the Financing of Political Parties entering the parliamentary procedure following a citizens’initiative (6,000 signatures).
In addition to continuos advocating for the adoption of the new law, the project includes the following activities: monitoring of financing during presidential elections, amending and updating the existing database (previously funded by the Foundation) available at: http://www.transparentnost.cg.yu/Pretraga/Kampanje.php, a study visit to Romania and publication of the annual report on findings of the monitoring activity and general project results in 2007.
1. Free Access to Information Concerning the Status of Environment in Montenegro
(NGO Network for the Affirmation of NGO Sector - MANS) EUR 8,370
The project aims at enhancing free access to information related to environment. MANS will promote the right to access to information in this domain by providing legal assistance to citizens and NGOs in collecting information on the status of environment in high-risk areas and sharing the information obtained from state institutions. Using all the legal mechanisms to exercise the right to access to information, MANS will also test the institutions' readiness to disclose information.
The project will include a phone line that will enable citizens to request information on the status of environment status possessed by state institutions. Citizens will be provided legal assistance concerning the procedures to access information and submit a criminal report or a constitutional complaint when denied requested information.
Publication: The Green maze - Access to Information on Environment
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Podgorica, 28 May, 2008 - Round table (Photo gallery)
2. Journalists as Beneficiaries of the Right to Access to Information
(NGO Association of Young Journalists - AMN) EUR 7,717.50
Practice has shown that, two years after the Law on Free Access to Information came into force, journalists rarely exercise the rights granted by this Law to obtain information relevant for their work. Therefore, the project aims to acquaint journalists with the mechanisms of free access to information through practical activities.
Association of Young Journalists will organize workshops for reporters from different media involved in investigative journalism, presenting the specific provisions of the Law on Free Access to Information and the procedures that ensure protection of the right to free access to information.
3. Minority Rights in the New Constitutional Context
(NGO Association Libertask) EUR 6,367.74
This is a follow up of the project titled Minority Rights in Practice implemented by NGO Association Libertask, Center for Democracy and Human Rights - CEDEM, Center for Human and Minority Rights – CEZAM and Nansen Dialog Center (Podgorica), funded in partnership with the King Baudouin Foundation, Brussels.
The project combines educational programs and awareness raising activities (among both minority and majority population), continuous monitoring and analysis of national legal framework regulating the position of minorities.
FOSI ROM funding is allocated for the two-day forum that will present project findings and consider the current context related to the constitutional obligation to adopt a new Law on Minorities. The forum should also provide guidelines for improving the position of minorities and a realistic analysis of all aspects of their position in Montenegro.
1. Seminar "European Standards - Reform of Criminal Law and Law of Delict";
Seminar "European Standards - Peaceful Enjoyment of Property"
(CEDEM) EUR 16,700
The project includes new seminars organized by CEDEM together with the AIRE Center, London, and partially funded by the Foreign Commonwealth Office, Westminster Foundation for Democracy and OESCE.
- The first seminar deals with the reform of the law of delict, in the light of the European Convention on Human Rights. It is intended to present to in ordinary judges and police-court magistrates the practice of the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg and the relevant European standards.
- The second seminar focuses on Article 1 of Protocol 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to free enjoyment of property. Renowned European legal professionals who have worked as representatives before the Strasbourg Court and local lawyers who handle cases of violation of the right to peaceful enjoyment of property will present their experiences to lawyers, prosecutors and representatives of NGOs concerned with human rights protection.
These seminars belong to the series of seminars on implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights supported by FOSI ROM.
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Herceg Novi, 21-22 September, 2007 - Seminar: European Standards - Reform of Criminal Law and Law of Delict (Photo Gallery»»)
1. Monitoring Political Party Financing in Montenegro - Advocating for a New Law
(NGO Center for Monitoring) EUR 8,271.92
The project includes two of the activities of the Center for Monitoring (CEMI) – lobbying for a new Law on Political Party Financing and update/completion of the database established by CEMI with FOSI ROM funding.
The activities related to advocating the adoption of the developed Draft Law on Political Party Financing imply continuous contacts 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 responsible for processing the new Draft Law.
1. Minority Rights in Practice
(NGO Nansen Dialog Center on behalf of NGO coallition) EUR 17,551.89
Minority Rights in Practice project covers different aspects of the subject matter of minority rights. King Baudouin Foundation has been implementing the project in other countries of the region for several years. FOSI-ROM supports the expansion of this project to Montenegro. Nansen Dialog Center, CEDEM, Center for Human and Minority Rights and NGO Ask are already implementing different activities that will contribute to an objective and thorough review of all aspects of the position of minorities, including the quality of implementation of legislative framework that defines their status in Montenegro.
CEDEM is carrying out a public opinion poll on ethnic distance; NDC is organizing workshops on socially active citizens from Ulcinj, Bijelo Polje, Bar and Tuzi; Center for Human and Minority Rights is developing a database of national-level regulations on the status of minorities and their legal analysis; Ask is performing an analysis of legal provisions on education of minorities and is preparing a field research on the degree of integration of minority populations in the Montenegrin education system.
2. European Convention and Montenegrin Criminal Legislation - the Right to a Fair Trial: Length of Proceedings, Presumption of Innocence and Equality of Parties
(CEDEM) EUR 6,975
In the context of development of new constitutional and legislative framework that will regulate the field of human rights and freedoms in Montenegro in accordance with the highest international standards, CEDEM is organizing a seminar on European Convention and Montenegrin Criminal Legislation - the Right to a Fair Trial: Length of Proceedings, Presumption of Innocence and Equality of Parties..
In addition to four local lecturers, who will present the legal framework for the protection of these rights and the practice in Montenegro to date, this seminar planned for early July 2007 will involve two renowned international experts, who will discuss European standards and actual decisions of the European Court in Strasbourg.
This seminar continues the series of seminars on implementation of European Convention on Human Rights, supported by the Foundation. NGO CEDEM is organizing the latest seminar in cooperation with AIRE Center, London, with partial financial assistance of Foreign Commonwealth Office, Westminster Foundation for Democracy and OSCE.
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Igalo, 06-07 July, 2007 - Seminar: European Convention and Montenegrin Criminal Legislation - the Right to a Fair Trial: Length of Proceedings, Presumption of Innocence and Equality of Parties (Photo gallery»»)