The Government of Montenegro (the Government) organize from  2  to 5
September this year an international conference and training entitled
"Towards Europe - Towards Equality". The undersigned organizations
will not take part at this conference. In this way, we further protest
against the relation of the Government towards domestic civil society
and the lack of track record in improvement of the situation of LGBT
population.

In recent years, civil society and independent media have been
extremely committed to LGBT rights. The Government's decision to
ignore the civil sector when designing policies or activities aiming
to improve the situation of LGBT persons raised additional concerns.
In particular, we are taking into account that the Government has not
adopted the initiated Action Plan to combat homophobia (AP) developed
by the Coalition "Together for LGBT Rights", in whose drafting
representatives of its ministries also took part. AP, proposed in
April this year, is fully in compliance with the Recommendation CM /
Rec (2010) 5 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to
the member states on measures to combat discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity. Instead of initiating the work on
implementing all or at least some of the proposed measures, the
Government convenes a three-days long conference in which are to be
re-discussed topics that should be already widely implemented.

We remind that during this year NGOs have organized several
international and national events in which the situation of LGBT
population was carefully considered and the position of the LGBT
persons assessed. These events addressed to the accurate and
constructive recommendations that the Government has not seriously
considered.

Measure of the resistance of the Government to provide equal
opportunities for the discriminated minority in our society is
reflected in the fact that the acknowledgement of many of these
recommendations did not require additional resources, but only the
expression of political will which was lacking.

During this year, it was not possible to register the facts that will
point to the visible results of the state in establishing a
sustainable antidiscrimination policy and practice of improving the
human rights of LGBT persons. On the other hand, there are numerous
examples in which the Government failed to support argument based
needs and requirements. We remind that until this moment the
Government has not adopted any strategic decision aimed at improving
the position of LGBT population, despite the fact that several
frameworks were offered on multiple occasion. The Government refused
to appoint the appropriate political level of its representative in
the Organization Committee of the Pride Parade who would take part and
address the participants of Pride after the walk. Police did not
identify who endangered 600 participants of the organized concert
marking the International Day Against Homophobia. Prosecutor's Office
has not prosecuted numerous examples of violence against LGBT
population and activists. For already a year legal proceedings against
discrimination are pending even though the law treats these as
priority.

Not a single textbook, although new edition is developed this year,
has any sentence about the existence of LGBT rights and LGBT persons.
There was also no support to a number of LGBT initiatives and
programmes.

In the work of the Government continues to work the Minister for Human
and Minority Rights who has repeatedly refused to affirm sexual
minorities, contrary to the standards and recommendations of the
Council of Europe and the European Union.

Our decision not to participate at this conference, as previously at
the trainings organized by the Ministry of Human Rights, prepared by
the principle of discrimination of prominent experts and activists for
LGBT rights in Montenegro, is nothing but a reminder that the
government needs to fulfill the obligations and promises to LGBT
population, domestic and international standards and the international
community to urgently concrete acts that demonstrate the readiness of
the real improvement of difficult position of LGBT persons in
Montenegro.

We note that the Conference and training represent the third phase of
Government’s operation for obtaining the positive opinion of the EC,
upon the formation of the Council for Fight against Discrimination and
appointment of special advisers against discrimination. It is obvious
that in just one month, the Government is trying to demonstrate the
political will before the international community without real concern
for the discriminated group followed with the total absence of
communication with them.

Our strong and intensive cooperation will be possible after the
Government does the following:

1.      Replace the Minister of Human and Minority Rights Ferhat Dinosa;

2.      Adopts the Action plan against homophobia on the basis of the
draft created by the coalition "Together for LGBT Rights" and provide
the conditions necessary for its implementation in cooperation with
the NGO sector;

3.      Provide political support for the organization of "Pride
Parade" and meet the requirements for its organization (ensuring
participation in the Pride and public speech of the Minister, Deputy
Prime Minister or Prime Minister);

4.      Establish institutional cooperation with NGOs involved in
protecting the rights of LGBT people in Montenegro and provide
assistance to their work;

5.      Prosecute and punish all examples of violence and hatred
against LGBT population and disruption of social life of the LGBT
community.


Under these conditions, we publicly reaffirm our commitment to provide
full support and partnership with the Government. The undersigned NGOs
want principle based, effective and strategic-oriented cooperation,
and refuse to help ignorance of the fact, postponing of the decision
and covering up the actual state of affairs for the sake of getting
the date of negotiations.


Statement signed by:

For the "LGBT Forum Progress" - Zdravko Cimbaljevic, Executive Director

For "Juventas" - Ivana Vujovic, President of the Board of Directors

For the "Centre for Civic Education" - Daliborka Uljarevic, Executive Director

For the “Montenegrin Women's Lobby" - Aida Petrovic, Coordinator

For the SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence
Podgorica - Biljana Zekovic, Executive Director

For the "Action for Human Rights" - Tea Gorjanc Prelevic, Executive Director

For the "Centre for Anti-discrimination" EQUISTA "- Milan Saranovic, Director

For “Expeditio” Kotor - Biljana Gligoric, Executive Director

For the "Centre for Development of NGOs" - Ana Novakovic, executive Director

For the “Shelter” - Ljiljana Raicevic, Director

For the "Monitoring Center" - Mr. Zlatko Vujovic, President of the
Board of Directors

For the SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence Niksic
– Nada Koprivica, Coordinator

For the “Institute Alternative” - Stevo Muk, President of the Board of Directors

For  “Center for women and peace education ANIMA”  Kotor – Ljupka
Kovacevic, Coordinator

For the “European Movement in Montenegro” - Momcilo Radulovic, Secretary General

For the “Montenegrin Alternative Culture” - Maja Bakic, executive director

For the “Roma Scholarship Foundation – Institute of Social Inclusion”
- Biljana Alkovic, Director