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Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022: “Freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Montenegro – JUFREX”

The rule of law, respect for human rights and democratic governance are at the heart of the EU accession process. To support reform processes in these areas, the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe (CoE) have been closely cooperating in the Western Balkans and Turkey through the Horizontal Facility for many years.

This project is funded under the Horizontal Facility II, with the aim to promote freedom of expression and freedom of the media. These freedoms underpin most other rights, allowing them to flourish. In other words, they represent one of the foundations of a democratic society.

Taking the above into account, the JUFREX project focuses on enhancing the application of European standards in the areas of freedom of expression and protection of journalists by the judiciary and law enforcement authorities, as well as on improving the capacities of media regulatory authorities and government bodies. The project is expected to result in an improved media legislative framework and enhanced capacities of media associations and universities to contribute to an enabling environment for freedom of expression and freedom of the media.

This project ensured funding for the Technical Assistance Contract entitled “Supporting the process of drafting media legislation”, which allowed for the engagement of experts to support the Government in drafting media legislation in line with the European standards, as well as the Media Grant Scheme, with grants that will be awarded to local media to promote freedom of expression and freedom of the media in pandemic times.

More about the Horizontal Facility Programme

The first phase of the programme ran from 2016 to 2019, while the second phase covers the period from 2019 to 2022. The total value of the facility is approximately €41 million (85% funded by the EU, 15% by the CoE). In the first phase of the programme, there were six beneficiary-specific actions for Montenegro, with a total budget of €3.33 million. In the second phase, €4.7 million have been allocated for seven actions, covering all the key areas of the Horizontal Facility such as: justice reform, human rights protection, prison and police reform, fight against economic crime, fight against discrimination and inclusive education.

Project name:

Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022: “Freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Montenegro – JUFREX”

Sector:

  • Media

Start time:

01/05/2019

End time:

01/05/2022

Location:

Montenegro

Budget:

635000.00€

Beneficiary:

Council of Europe (CoE)

More info:

https://www.coe.int/en/web/podgorica/freedom-of-expression-and-freedom-of-the-media-in-montenegro-jufrex-21

News:

Additonal materials:

Grants

Sportom-do-inkluzije-i-pristupacnosti-rampa-za-bazen

Towards inclusion and accessibility through sports

  • It was implemented by the Association for Assistance to Persons with Psychophysical Development (UZPD), with the aim of increasing inclusion and equality of persons with disabilities in Nikšić, as well as their motivation and self-confidence.
I-choose-a-healthy-lifestyle

I choose a healthy lifestyle

  • It was implemented by the Eco Centre Dolphin from Kotor, with the aim of improving the knowledge and skills of primary school children in Kotor in respect of the benefits of healthy lifestyles, particularly through cooperation between civil society and educational institutions. The grant helped strengthen cooperation among CSOs and between CSOs and the public sector. It also enhanced the advocacy capacities, knowledge and skills of local CSOs that took part in relevant training courses, as well as environmental awareness about healthy lifestyles among school children who participated in educational and practical training sessions.

Lake Šas – the untouched resource of Ulcinj

  • It was implemented by Green Step from Ulcinj, with the aim of analysing the current situation the area of Lake Šas and initiating further steps towards its protection. Thanks to this sub-grant, the organisation improved its capacities and visibility. It also conducted research and prepared recommendations with respect to the efficiency of the management of Lake Šas. Furthermore, a roundtable discussion with representatives of national authorities and green CSOs helped define an initiative for renewing the procedure for declaring Lake Šas a protected area, which was submitted to the Municipality of Ulcinj for adoption.

Sound Source

  • It was implemented by the Student Active Frequency of Radio Avant-Gard – SAFRA from Podgorica, with the aim of creating equal opportunities for study and activism for visually impaired students. Some of the activities included recording relevant audio books and setting up a site with an audio library, as well as initiating a constructive dialogue and raising awareness about their needs. Being recognised as student radio station, with this sub-grant SAFRA enhanced its capacities and expanded its horizons towards people with visual impairment. It signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Association of the Blind of Montenegro and tailored its services to the needs of the visually impaired. In addition, the grant also helped design and launch the Sound Source digital platform for the visually impaired, which will serve as a database for future beneficiaries.

The environment is very important – let’s protect it urgently

  • It was implemented by LEGALIS, an NGO based in Pljevlja, with the aim of motivating the citizens of Pljevlja to take part in environment protection. LEGALIS established cooperation with the Municipality of Pljevlja and distributed around 50 led panels with educational brochures on environment and climate change. In addition, around 200 young people were directly involved in environmental protection activities in the most polluted municipality in Montenegro, which included educational workshops, community clean-up activities and the planting of 40 trees in the central part of Pljevlja.
Healthy-and-good-connections

Healthy and good connections

  • It was implemented by the Civic Creative Centre from Cetinje, with the aim of building the capacities of youth from volunteer clubs and/or youth clubs in Tivat, Budva, Cetinje, Berane, Nikšić, Danilovgrad, Podgorica and Tuzi in terms of peer education on sexual and reproductive rights. This sub-grant helped present an online counseling service for young people and increased their awareness about risky behaviors. It directly reached 250 young people from the above-mentioned municipalities, but the outreach was much wider as the Civic Creative Center conducted an intensive social media campaign. Also, the sub-grant facilitated capacity building training on financial management and philanthropy.
Protect-nature-dont-waste-energy

Protect nature, don’t waste energy

  • It was implemented by the Youth Civic Initiative from Rožaje, with the aim of raising public awareness about the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources in Rožaje. The local community was informed and educated about the topic through a social media campaign and a special brochure on energy efficiency measures. Furthermore, more than 100 trees were planted in a joint activity involving local schools, institutions and civil society organisations. The sub-grant helped increase public interest in taking part in environmental protection, especially among youth, as more than 150 students from 5 schools attended thematic workshops and expressed willingness to be actively involved in similar activities.

#DoMoreBeMore

  • It was implemented by the Centre for Youth Education from Podgorica, with the aim of establishing mechanisms for developing and supporting youth activism at the national and local levels in the areas of importance for young people. This involved support for youth empowerment and networking by fostering youth participation, social inclusion, information and mobility. The sub-grant helped strengthen the capacities of the Centre for Youth Education and promote socially responsible programmes for young people through different events, as well as via the web, social media and traditional media. Furthermore, youth in Montenegro gained insight into all the benefits the European Youth Card (EYC). Thanks to the sub-grant, a total of 500 cards were made and distributed in Podgorica and in the north of the country.
Initiative-to-suppress-imposed-fate

An initiative to suppress the “imposed fate”

  • It was implemented by the Centre for Roma Initiatives from Nikšić, with the aim of enabling Roma and Egyptian girls to enjoy the rights defined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child through proper application of the legislative framework in combating early marriages. This sub-grant helped the NGO to improve its organisational knowledge and skills, including on project proposal writing. Furthermore, a public campaign against early marriages of Roma and Egyptian girls was conducted in Podgorica and Nikšić. In addition, an initiative to amend Article 444 of the the Criminal Code of Montenegro with regard to entering into an unlawful marriage was prepared and submitted by the Ministry of Justice.

Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022: “Freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Montenegro – JUFREX”

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Implemented by the NGO Monitor Center for Media and Democracy, with an aim to help reducing the level of peer violence against Roma youth. In order to raise awareness of peer violence against members of the Roma community, this sub-grant included production of several research articles. In the research process were also involved journalists from the Roma portal “Romalitika”.