Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022: “Further enchancing human rights protection of detained and sentenced persons in Montenegro”

Posted on

August 1, 2021

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 focuses on prisons, police stations and psychiatric institutions and the rights of persons detained in these institutions at some point of their lives. It aims at enhancing the protection of human rights of detained and sentenced persons, as well as at ensuring a better perspective for a successful return to the community. Also, it supports the strengthening of safeguards against ill-treatment and accountability of the police and prison staff, with the aim of preventing any cases of abuse of force by police when handling persons deprived of liberty or crowds during protests.

Through improved conditions in closed facilities, along with the support of better educated and trained professionals, beneficiaries and their families will experience more comfort and a greater sense of security. This in return enables better understanding and cooperation among all stakeholders involved in the processes of rehabilitation and reintegration. This makes all of society a safer place, where everyone enjoys equal rights.

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: “Further enchancing human rights protection of detained and sentenced persons in Montenegro”

Sector:

Rule of Law

Start time:

01/05/2019

End time:

01/05/2022

Location:

Montenegro

Budget:

750000.00€

Beneficiary:

Council of Europe (CoE)

More info:

www.coe.int/en/web/podgorica/further-enhancing-human-rights-protection-for-detained-and-sentenced-persons-in-montenegro1

News:

Additonal materials:

Grants

Affirmative sign – the use of symbolic signs for the promotion of positive life values and affirmative action as a tool for prevention of peer violence

Implemented by the NGO Youth Cultural Center Herceg Novi, with an aim to contribute to preventing and combating peer violence by promoting positive values through creative interventions in public spaces. 250 students and 20 teachers participated in its activities and 25 creative workshops were conducted in primary and secondary schools. The workshops combined creative work, followed by discussions on diversity, friendship, tolerance, etc. Each series of 5 workshops ended with a joint painting of a fresco, which represents the positive values discussed during the workshops.

Action for TRANSforming the schools

Implemented by the Association “Spektra”, with an aim to contribute to the fight against peer violence towards trans gender youth. Within this sub-grant was established cooperation with key stakeholders: Ministry of Education, Institute for Education and UNICEF. Also, a Memorandum of Cooperation with secondary school "Mirko Vešović" was signed, and a plan of educational activities in that school is in making. The research "Responding to Violence: Research on Discrimination against Transgender and Gender-Variating Students in Secondary Schools in Montenegro" was conducted and presented, together with the "Guidelines for Creating a Safe School Environment for Gender Diversity". In cooperation with the Pedagogical Center, training for capacity building of transgender and gender-diverse activists for conducting education were organised. This sub-grant helped raise awareness on prevention and protection mechanisms against peer violence against transgender and gender-diverse students by creating and implementing an online campaign "To ring the violence".

Our Money

Implemented by the Association of professional journalists of Montenegro and the Trade Union of Montenegrin Physicians, with an aim to empower journalists and media to more effectively monitor public spending in Montenegro, as well as doctors and journalists to specifically monitor public spending in the health sector. As part of this subgrant, two training sessions were organised for both journalists and doctors. One training was organised on monitoring and reporting on budgetary spending; and the other one on monitoring of budget spending in the health sector. Additionally, a brochure compiling six investigative journalism articles (three on public spending and three on budget spending in the health sector) was prepared and published in print and online media.

Ulcinj’s civil society monitors public spending

Implemented by the Regional Development Agency" – Ulcinj Business Association, with an aim to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations based in Ulcinj municipality to participate adequately in monitoring the spending of public funds. Within this subgrant, an analysis of the local budget spending of Ulcinj municipality was prepared and presented to the stakeholders; and training for 20 NGO representatives from Ulcinj municipality on monitoring of budget spending and participative budgeting was organised.

Our Money – Yours or Our Responsibility

Implemented by the NGO NADA – Herceg Novi, with an aim to increase the level of Herceg Novi citizens’ understanding of the budget cycle and openness of local self-government for participatory budgeting and civic monitoring of public money spending. NGO NADA compiled and submitted citizen’s ideas for infrastructure investments in Herceg Novi as an initiative to the local self-government for infrastructural local development and budget planning. Also, three initiatives on participative budgeting and budget transparency were submitted to the local self-government. Within the subgrant were organised a workshop on participative budgeting for 23 NGO representatives; round table on participative budgeting at the local level; as well as panel discussion and final conference on local budget and transparency.

More transparent concessions for the exploitation of gravel and forest

Implemented by the Democratic Centre of Bijelo Polje and Centre for Creative Skills, with an aim to strengthen the application of anti-corruption policies through raising the awareness of citizens in Berane and Bijelo Polje municipalities on the importance of combating corruption at the local level. As part of this subgrant, a research on concessions for gravel and forest exploitation in Bijelo Polje and Berane was conducted. Furthermore, two photo exhibitions were organised in Bijelo Polje and Berane on the state of the Lim River on several locations after concessionaire’s activities; and a video on state of the Lim River on locations where the concessionaires are exploiting gravel and sand was prepared and promoted.

Transparent public spending on Roma inclusion policies

Implemented by the “Walk with us” Phiren Amenca, with an aim to empower Roma’s civil society organisations to participate in monitoring of public spending. Therefore, within this subgrant a publication “Analysis of the financing of Roma people public policies on the local and national level” was prepared and published. In order to build capacities in budgetary planning and overseeing the budgetary spending for Roma people of CSOs dealing with Roma people’s rights and policies, two trainings were organised for their representatives, and a conference was organised to present research findings and recommendations to stakeholders.

Games of Chance – How to reach a more efficient and transparent system

It was implemented by the Institute for Legal Studies, with an aim to contribute to more efficient and accountable management of public finances in Montenegro. More precisely, the specific goal of this subgrant was to define guidelines for the development of new public policy for collecting and spending public funds from games of chance. Within this subgrant a publication ‘’Improving the efficiency and transparency of the games of chance system of Montenegro’’ was prepared, published and printed in 250 copies, with a total of 28 recommendations for different types of games of chance. One infographic with key research findings was prepared and published, and a conference was held to present research findings to interested parties and stakeholders. Also, 12 meetings with stakeholders were held to discuss institutional and overall reform of the games of chance system.

Our budget is our business!

Implemented by the Association of Youth with Disabilities, with an aim to contribute to control the spending of special contributions for the employment of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and the process of budget planning for measures of professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. Within this subgrant was produced an Analysis on the financial aspects of the Law on professional rehabilitation and employment of PWDs 2019, with 33 recommendations; and a roundtable for presenting the analysis with more than 70 participants/stakeholders was organised. Additionally, guidelines on the payment of special contributions for people with disabilities were adopted and published on the Tax Administration’s website. A public advocacy campaign, including one TV show on the payment of special contributions for people with disabilities was conducted.