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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

Common money – common responsibility

  • Implemented by the NGO Natura, with an aim to increase the level of knowledge and information of NGO sector and citizens in Kolašin on public spending at local level. During its implementation period, a local campaign on participatory budgeting was conducted and a budget for citizens of Kolašin Municipality was prepared, published and printed. Moreover, two trainings on citizens’ participation in decision making on budget planning and spending, were organised for 30 participants from the local municipality, media and NGO representatives.
How-is-our-budget-spent-Non-Public-spending-in-Montenegro

How is our budget spent? (Non)Public spending in Montenegro

  • It was implemented by the Centre for Investigative Journalism, with an aim to improve oversight and transparency of public spending at the national level. This was achieved by expert analysis, investigative articles and regular public dissemination of information on public expenditure, public debt structure and projects financed from the capital budget. The publication “Analysis of Montenegro’s Public Debt for the period 2006-2018” was prepared, published and printed in 200 copies, with 5 recommendations prepared for stakeholders. Three investigative journalism articles on public debt and infrastructure projects were prepared and published in printed and online media. Also, within this subgrant was organised a panel discussion and presentation of research findings and recommendations.
tri-najseksi-zivotinnje1-1

Testni grant

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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”.