Posted on 

Judicial Reform: Upgrading CSO’s capacities to contribute to the integrity of judiciary

In order to move forward on its path to the European Union, Montenegro needs to make further progress in the rule of law reform, including in the implementation of the judiciary reform.

This project aimed to contribute to achieving a higher level of the rule of law in Montenegro, particularly by: increasing the level of professionalism, accountability, efficiency and integrity of the judiciary; improving the monitoring and advocacy capacities of local CSOs; and strengthening cooperation between civil society and judicial institutions, in line with the EU accession criteria under Chapters 23 and 24.

During its implementation period, the project helped improve the legal framework relating to the judicial system of Montenegro. In particular, it resulted in the adoption of a medium-term Plan for streamlining the court network and in the establishment of standardised statistical reporting in line with the CEPEJ guidelines. Furthermore, the Action Plan accompanying the 2019-2020 Judicial Reform Strategy was adopted and implemented. In addition, a new web platform for courts, the State Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Justice was set up, while the project also helped prepare policy papers with recommendations for relevant policy changes in the judicial system.

The project also contributed to establishing effective mechanisms of cooperation between CSOs and judicial institutions. Additionally, it helped build the capacities of CSOs through a sub-granting scheme on topics in the area of justice, including court monitoring methodology, advocacy, trial monitoring, anti-corruption and access to justice. The following 6 projects benefited from the sub-granting scheme:

Project name:

Judicial Reform: Upgrading CSO’s capacities to contribute to the integrity of judiciary

Sector:

  • Civil Society

Start time:

15/09/2017

End time:

14/03/2020

Location:

Montenegro – Basic Courts: Ulcinj, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Bar, Plav, Rozaje, Cetinje, Bijelo Polje, Kolasin, Berane, Niksic, Zabljak, Pljevlja, Podgorica, Danilovgrad; High Courts: Podgorica, Bijelo Polje.

Budget:

292136.00€

Beneficiary:

Centre for monitoring and research (CeMI)
Partners: NGO Center for Democracy and Human Rights – CEDEM; NGO Network for Affirmation of European Integration Process – MAEIP; Associates: Ministry of Justice, Supreme Court of Montenegro

More info:

https://cemi.org.me/
https://www.facebook.com/CeMIMontenegro/
https://twitter.com/cemi_me

News:

Additonal materials:

Grants

Using occupational therapy: rolling wool in day care centres for children and youth with disabilities

  • It was implemented by Oaza, an NGO based in Bijelo Polje, with the aim of contributing to the development of social inclusion, particularly by improving the quality of social services to support community life and strengthening the capacity of the organisation to facilitate the rights of children and youth with disabilities. The sub-grant also helped the NGO to develop a training programme for work and occupational therapy with persons with disabilities involving the use of wool in creating therapeutic aids, which targeted representatives of parents' associations and social care public institutions. The programme was submitted for accreditation with the Institute for Social and Child Protection.
Youth-for-youth

Youth for youth

  • It was implemented by Pro Futuro from Nikšić, with the aim of improving the position of young people, their personal and social development, and participation in social processes important for their further prosperity. This sub-grant helped increase youth participation in the creation and implementation of different cultural contents. A total of 30 young volunteers participated in the organisation of Bedem Fest. Also, the grant helped organise different training sessions on strategic marketing planning in arts and culture, integrated marketing communications, PR skills, logistics and introduction to legal and administrative procedures with a view to advancing the knowledge and skills of young people and their position in society.
DSC_2828

Volunteer, be a friend!

  • It was implemented by the Staze association from Podgorica, with the aim of raising awareness about the needs of children and youth with disabilities by developing volunteer services and informing and recruiting volunteers to socialise with them. With this sub-grant, Staze improved its capacities and trained youth volunteers to work with youth with disabilities. With the help of trained volunteers, 26 children and young people, affiliated with Staze, received support and increased their cultural and social involvement within the community.
DSC_2828

Women Matters

  • It was implemented by the “Urban Nova“ Herceg Novi, with an aim to improve cooperation between civil society organisations and representatives of the private sector in order to advance gender equality in local policies and practices. Within this sub-grant, online campaign, performance, exhibition, as well as workshops to exchange knowledge between CSOs, institutions, activists and artists were organised. Furthermore, research was conducted and the publication “Women Matters”, which promotes and affirms women’s creativity and activist heritage in Boka Kotorska Bay, was issued.
DSC_2828

#howareyou

  • It was implemented by the Youth centre “Proactive” Podgorica, with an aim to explore the problems in the field of mental health of youth, address these issues with a participatory youth support and improve the internal structure and competencies of the organisational membership. During its implementation period, an online counselling centre and a website www.kakosi.me were established; and over 350 young people took part in workshops, presentations and counselling.
DSC_2828

Active and Responsible for Themselves and the Community

  • It was implemented by the Association of Young Ecologists Niksic, with an aim to build capacity of the organisation and contribute to community development. The Action Plan adopted, the Strategic Plan created, and modern portal established enhanced the organisational capacity. Also, thanks to this sub-grant, the organisation better positioned itself towards decision-makers and established a volunteer service of “greeters”.
DSC_2828

Developing a Security System and access to Justice for the LGBTIQ Community”

  • It was implemented by the LGBT Forum Progres Podgorica, with an aim to build organisational capacity for service provision and advocacy work via developing new web platform and improved community-based services, as well as trainings for strengthening in-house capacity for project cycle management. The LGBT Forum Progres increased its outreach and strengthened its capacities in areas of importance for the daily life of the LGBTIQ community. Within this sub-grant were conducted trainings on project cycle management, financial activities and planning, and new technical and technological solutions; as well as lectures on human rights, NGOs activism, media, psychology, law and justice. Also, legal aid and support was continuously provided, and the LGBT Forum Progres continued cooperation with the institutions in the field of legal and criminal damage protection of LGBTIQ people in Montenegro.
DSC_2828

By developing the capacity for better services in the Snail’s Shell

  • It was implemented by the Association of Parents of Children and Youth with Disabilities “Snail Shell” Budva, with an aim to support development of the strategic plan of the organisation, participation in trainings in the field of project management, and licensing of social services for children with disabilities. Within this sub-grant, an expert-led Strategic Plan for a period 2020-2022 was developed and adopted; Memorandum on Cooperation with Daily Centre for children with disabilities in Budva signed; and service provision of the organisation improved.
DSC_2828

ALFA Center Volunteer Club

  • It was implemented by the ALFA Centar Niksic, with an aim to contribute to its organisational development through establishment of ALFA Center Volunteer Club and organising several volunteer actions, training and study visit to relevant local and national institutions and organisations. Thanks to this sub-grant, the Volunteer Club was established and 20 young volunteers were recruited and trained. Additionally, the annual award for local (Niksic) Volunteer of the Year was successfully organised for the first time. In addition to promoting volunteerism, it also contributed to increased cross-sectoral cooperation, and even better public image of the organisation.

Judicial Reform: Upgrading CSO’s capacities to contribute to the integrity of judiciary

Fusce porttitor faucibus est, ac feugiat libero. Sed cursus justo erat, vitae dignissim turpis imperdiet vitae. Aliquam mattis odio sed lacus euismod, eget placerat diam consectetur. Fusce in erat sit amet orci euismod semper. Proin at tristique sem, at suscipit neque. Ut pellentesque sagittis leo, non ullamcorper libero rhoncus vitae. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Suspendisse egestas nulla quis turpis gravida, vel convallis enim vehicula. Ut a luctus purus. Aliquam placerat, mauris at pellentesque fermentum, magna metus vulputate arcu, sed varius mi libero id lacus. Pellentesque consequat quam non tincidunt maximus. Nulla egestas lobortis ligula ut blandit. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Integer a urna at purus varius placerat vitae non turpis.

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”.