United Nations in Montenegro

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Montenegro:

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13 December 2022

Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund

Click here for Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund - Terms of Reference About the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund is a pooled fund mechanism that aims to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and imminent achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Montenegro, as well as to support the country’s EU accession process. The fund will provide catalytic support to priority areas in line with the National Strategy for Sustainable Development, Programme of Accession of Montenegro to the European Union and the forthcoming UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027. Additional benefits that the Acceleration Fund will yield are related to achieving synergies of participating UN Organisations and thus support in country implementation of the UN Reform. There is only seven years left to achieve SDGs, and even less for fulfilling EU accession criteria, and Montenegro needs support to be successful. This is the main rationale for establishing the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund. Objective and purpose of the Fund The Fund will support integrated and coherent resource mobilization, centralised and transparent allocation and disbursement of resources to promote development and implementation of integrated activities to meet the SDGs, advance EU accession process and support implementation. Thematic focus of the Fund The strategic and thematic focus of the Fund will revolve around the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation 2023-2027. This document will define three strategic priority areas of UN work in Montenegro: inclusive economic development and environmental sustainability; human capital development, reducing vulnerability, social inclusion; and social cohesion, people-centred governance, rule of law and human rights. Furthermore, the Fund will also aim to support acceleration of the EU accession process through the 2030 Agenda framework. UN Montenegro conducted an analysis of synergies and interlinkages between the EU accession process and the 2030 Agenda. The findings show that EU accession process addresses 2/3rds of the 2030 Agenda (105 out of 169 SDG targets). The Acceleration Fund will seek to propel synergetic moments between these two transformational agendas so the public administration, as the primary duty bearer, yields on efficiency gains when tackling these two processes in synergy. Beyond the policy cohesion element and the support towards Cooperation Framework implementation, the Fund will produce benefits of triggering more joint UN action as one of the major calls of the UN Reform. Management of the Fund The Fund will be managed by the Joint Country Steering Committee. This body also provides an oversight role for the implementation of the UN Cooperation Framework 2023-2027. It is co-chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Joint Country Steering Committee is the best-placed entity to manage the Fund because it ensures that interventions are in line with national priorities, and strategic areas of the Cooperation Framework and ensures national ownership that, further, contributes to the sustainability of the interventions financed by the Fund. Administration of the Fund The Fund will be administered by the Multi-Purpose Trust Fund (MPTF). MPTF is a well-known UN pooled funding mechanism that enables global standards for transparency in reporting. The Fund will welcome contributions from a broad range of partners – public, private, multilateral and bilateral funding sources. The Fund will have a preference in fundraising non-earmarked or lightly earmarked contributions that will help UN System to ensure effectiveness.

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20 January 2023

Government contributes 1 million EUR to the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund

Podgorica, 20 January 2023 The Government of Montenegro took a step closer to Agenda 2030 by endorsing the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund and committing allocation of a million EUR into this new generation of financing tools aimed for pooling donor funds to be channelled towards development initiatives. The UN-initiated Fund is designed to be major vehicle to support the country’s acceleration of Sustainable Development Goals implementation, as well as to support the country’s EU accession process. By contributing to the Fund, Montenegro showed strong ownership over the implementation of Agenda 2030. According to Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazović, the Fund will be criticaly important for Montenegro's aspirations to meet country's commitments within the Agenda 2030. “By supporting Agenda 2030, the Fund is a very important means of support to our EU integration process,” said Abazović, inviting bilateral partners to join the initiative and support the Fund. Besides Government’s contribution, Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund also attracted financial support from several other countries, including Luxembourg and Switzerland. UN Resident Coordinator Peter Lundberg welcomed signing of this UN-pooled pooled funding mechanism, emphasizing that it comes in critical moment. “Government’s endorsement of this important vehicle for Montenegro’s development is a strong signal of country’s commitment to implementation of Agenda for Sustainable Development by 2030. With eight years left till fulfilment of this universal development plan, Montenegro needs all our support to succeed on this time critical endeavor,” said Lundberg, expressing hope that other partner countries will join the Fund in a quest for sustainable development of Montenegro. As a booster to country’s development on its way to EU, the Fund is set to support strategic initiatives in three priority areas of the Cooperation Framework between Montenegro and the United Nations for the period 2023-27: inclusive economic development and environmental sustainability human capital development, reducing vulnerability, social inclusion social cohesion, people-centred governance, rule of law and human rights. The Fund signed between the Government of Montenegro and the United Nations has been operational since the 1st January 2023, but the administrative and fundraising activities are ongoing for almost a year. It will be managed by the UN country team in close partnership with the Government, to secure full national commitment and long-term sustainability.

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20 July 2022

Paving the way forward together

Podgorica, 20 July 2022 The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Ranko Krivokapić and the UN Resident Coordinator Peter Lundberg signed today the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework UNSDCF 2023-2027, to pave the way for UN-Montenegro collaboration in the next five years. Minister Krivokapić said that the next five years are crucial for Montenegro's cooperation with the UN and the EU, and that it would be useful to turn two parallel roads into a single path, which will end in 2027 with membership in the European Union. Montenegrin Foreign Minister pointed out that the main benefit of all engagements of Montenegro with the United Nations, as well as with Euro-Atlantic partners, is full understanding. “We feel like a country that has full understanding on its path to European integration, dignified membership in the UN, as well as belonging to the Euro-Atlantic community,” - said Krivokapić, emphasizing that this understanding is no less important than the multiple assistance we receive in areas that modernize our society, adding that the number of countries and agencies that support Montenegro is beyond any expectation. Emphasizing that social inclusion is the way how small communities function and exist, Krivokapić said that they survive on solidarity and connection, which is not only economic and social, but also has an emotional note that gives the full feeling of living in one society. Speaking about the parallel process of European integration, he said that there is no more time to delay, and that every wind is good for a ship that knows where it is going, while there is no good wind for a ship that does not know where it is going. “Our path is the EU, but that path cannot be limitless, that path must have its own time frames set for Montenegro, through constant reforms that are achievable in the next five-year period, but also shorter than that,” said Krivokapić. The UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro Peter Lundberg said that the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, jointly adopted today, represents the foundations of cooperation between Montenegro and the United Nations in the next five years. “This common vision of development, based on jointly identified development priorities, will help accelerate our journey towards the Agenda 2030, but also the EU accession of Montenegro," said Lundberg, emphasizing that one of major drivers of the process will be the Montenegro Acceleration Fund, a new generation of pooled funds to help solve development challenges. Before signing the UNSDCF, the Government and UN team held the Joint Country Steering Committee meeting, to review implementation of the Integrated UN Programme (UNDAF) 2017-2022, including joint results in 2021 and plans for 2022.

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20 March 2023

A year of the conflict in Ukraine - Montenegro continues to stand with the people forced to flee

March 2023 Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, more than 13 million people remain uprooted from their homes, causing one of the largest population displacements in Europe since the Second World War. With no end of the conflict in sight, many European countries have wholeheartedly provided assistance to people forced to flee, including a small country on the Balkan peninsula, Montenegro. On 11 March 2022, the Government of Montenegro activated the Temporary Protection (TP) for persons fleeing Ukraine for up to 1 year. Although Montenegro does not share its borders with Ukraine, since 24 February 2022, over 95,000 Ukrainians arrived in the country. Cultural similarities, people’s altruism and Montenegro’s open-door policy created a feeling of safety for more than 34,000 Ukrainians who decided to stay – a staggering 5% of the country’s population, out of whom more than 8,000 applied for temporary protection. For sense of scale and burden on Montenegro, a country that does not have access to the EU funds as it is not an EU member state, this would equal to Poland hosting 1.9 million refugees or France hosting 3.4 million refugees. On 15 February 2023, the Government of Montenegro adopted the Decision to extend the TP for Ukrainian refugees until 11 March 2024 and expand the scope of people benefiting from this protection regime. Beside the Ukrainian citizens, persons granted international protection in Ukraine and persons granted stateless status in Ukraine, as per the new Decision, Ukrainians who used to have some residence in Montenegro prior to 24 February can now also apply for temporary protection. In line with the new Decision all TP holders are invited to approach the Ministry of Interior (MoI) branch offices, in their place of residence, to replace TP certificates. UNHCR, in close collaboration with its partners, local NGO Civic Alliance and Red Cross of Montenegro, as well as through the network of Ukrainian volunteers organized by the Embassy of Ukraine in Montenegro, increased field presence to spread the information to all TP holders and to support both TP holders and MoI to complete the procedure in a timely manner. On 3 March 2023, UNHCR organized the transportation for 30 refugees from the state-provided accommodation, the Hotel Sato in coastal city of Sutomore to the local branch offices of the Ministry of Interior in the neighboring city of Bar. The assistance by UNHCR and its partners was critical in ensuring the refugee population does not fall into legal precarity if they do not meet the deadline for extension. Olga, a 38-year-old refugee mother from Ukraine, said: “We cannot be thankful enough to people and the state of Montenegro for providing us warm and safe home for the past one year. Leaving Ukraine was the hardest decision I had to take, but safety of my children was indisputable. Montenegro, we see as our second home and we will never forget the kindness and generosity shown to us, as well as today when extending our stay.” Since 24 February, UNHCR Montenegro has provided support both to the authorities and to all people seeking shelter in the country due to the war in Ukraine. The office has supported the authorities in the response to the refugee crisis, strengthening its capacities and ensuring timely processing of TP applications, while ensuring Ukrainian refugees have unimpeded access to rights, particularly healthcare, education, employment and social care as well as psychosocial assistance. “Montenegro took a tremendous burden amidst the growing global economic uncertainties by maintaining the open-door policy to those persons forcibly fleeing from Ukraine. The decision to trigger the Temporary Protection regime in 2022 and its recent decision to extend it for another year, to provide a sound legal basis for the protection and inclusion of Ukrainians, have been a remarkable example of humanitarianism. These results testify to the indispensable partnership between UNHCR and Montenegro in upholding the international humanitarian law and the respective high ambitions for protecting those forced to flee” said Jean-Yves Bouchardy, UNHCR Representative in Montenegro. UNHCR will continue supporting the Ukrainian population opting to seek safety in Montenegro, as well as cooperating with the state institutions and partners to ensure that no one is left behind. For more information about UNHCR's work in Montenegro please visit: UNHCR - Montenegro. By Teodora Lađić

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08 March 2023

We have to stand up for the lives and rights of women and girls. Everywhere.

OpEd by the UN Secretary-general Antonio Guterres Around the world, progress on women’s rights is vanishing before our eyes. The latest forecasts estimate that on our current track, it will take another 300 years to reach full gender equality. Today’s cascading crises, from the war in Ukraine to the climate emergency, affect women and girls first and worst. And as part of the global pushback against democracy, women’s rights over their bodies and autonomy over their lives are being questioned and denied. Two statistics make our failure very clear: Every ten minutes, one woman or girl is murdered by a family member or intimate partner. And one woman dies every two minutes during pregnancy or childbirth. Most of those deaths are entirely preventable. On International Women’s Day, we must commit to doing better. We need to reverse these horrific trends and stand up for the lives and rights of women and girls, everywhere. This is one of my core priorities and a central plank of the work of the United Nations around the world. From South Sudan to Myanmar, we are supporting women and girls in crisis and making sure their voices are heard in peace processes. The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, recently visited Afghanistan with a message for the authorities: women and girls have fundamental human rights, and we will never give up fighting for them. This year, International Women’s Day focuses on closing gender gaps in science, technology, and innovation. Globally, men are 21 percent more likely to be online than women — and over 50 percent more likely in low-income countries. But even the richest countries lose out because of gender-based stereotypes and historic bias. In the tech industry, men outnumber women two to one. In Artificial Intelligence, it’s five to one. Big data is the new gold, and the foundation of today’s political and business decisions. But it often ignores gender differences – or turns a blind eye to women altogether. We should all be alarmed by products and services that bake in gender inequality right from the start, and digitize patriarchy and misogyny. The Silicon Valleys of this world must not become Death Valleys for women’s rights. Medical decisions based on data from men’s bodies can not only harm women; it can be deadly. Discrimination against women in science and technology is the result of centuries of patriarchy, discrimination and damaging stereotypes. Women account for just three percent of Nobel Prize winners in scientific categories since 1901. And women online – including scientists and journalists – are often targeted for sexist hate speech and abuse designed to silence and shame them. But they will not be silenced. Women and girls everywhere are demanding their rights, and their words reverberate around the world. We need action on several fronts to make sure women and girls can make their full contribution to the world’s knowledge through science and technology. We must break down barriers — from discriminatory data to stereotypes that push girls away from studying scientific subjects at an early age. Decisionmakers of all kinds must broaden women’s participation and leadership in science and technology, through quotas if necessary. They should be creative, widening the recruitment pipeline and hiring for skills. And they must be persistent. Gender equality will not happen by itself; it has to be prioritized and pursued. This approach is getting results at the United Nations, where we have our own strategy for gender parity among our personnel. We also need action to create a safe digital environment for women and to hold accountable both the perpetrators of online abuse, and the digital platforms that enable them. The United Nations is working with governments, civil society, the private sector and others on a Code of Conduct aimed at reducing harm and increasing accountability on digital platforms, while defending freedom of expression. Women’s rights are not a luxury that can wait until we solve the climate crisis, end poverty and create a better world. Investing in women and girls is the surest way to uplift all people, communities and countries, and to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Together, let’s work for a more inclusive, just, and prosperous world for women and girls, men and boys, everywhere.

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07 February 2023

Joining Forces for Sustainable Development of Montenegro

Podgorica, 7 February 2023 The Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazović, the UN Resident Coordinator Peter Lundberg and the Ambassador of Switzerland to Montenegro Urs Schmid signed an agreement today on the allocation of 2,5 million EUR for the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund. The Fund is a new generation financial tool established by the UN team in the country, which seeks to pool donor funds that will be directed towards development initiatives. The Government of Montenegro allocated EUR 1 million for the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund, while the Government of Switzerland supported this initiative with EUR 1.5 million. Previously, the contribution to the Fund was determined by the Government of Luxembourg. "The idea and vision of this Government is to make Montenegro a white and green destination. It is not an easy job, because we have to change a lot, and we have to have sustainable projects. I am more than sure that this Fund will give us a chance to find a good project and that after its implementation we will have a much better situation in terms of sustainable development,“ said Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazović. Montenegro's contribution to sustainable development through this funding modality is particularly significant from the perspective of the country's size and economy. Montenegro hereby invests €1.3 per capita in sustainable development through the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund, which is more than all countries in the region. This also stands as clear indicator of Montenegro's strategic orientation towards sustainable development and cooperation with the United Nations. UN Resident Coordinator Peter Lundberg pointed out that the Fund has been designed as a powerful catalyst for accelerating SDGs implemetation in the country. "The Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund is a common vision of accelerated achievement of Agenda 2030. Considering the enormous development potential, the Fund can be an important tool for country’s development and achievement of national priorities, primarely country's accession to the European Union," said Lundberg, adding that the Fund is the result of a true development partnership. Urs Schmid, ambassador of Switzerland, which is currently the largest donor to the Fund, pointed out that bilateral relations between Switzerland and Montenegro are very dynamic and that Switzerland is among the five largest foreign investors in Montenegro with around 800 million euros invested since 2003. "Switzerland's participation in the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund will further improve relations between our two countries and I believe that our contribution will encourage other countries and development partners to join this innovative financial mechanism and to contribute that way to acceleration of reforms in Montenegro," said Schmid. By consolidating and directing funds towards targeted development interventions, the Fund will be catalyzing not only SDGs but also acceleration of Montenegro's accession to the EU, given the high level of alignment between the Agenda 2030 and the EU accession process. The Fund is designed to support strategic initiatives in three priority areas of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027: 1) inclusive economic development and environmental sustainability, 2) human capital development, reducing vulnerability, social inclusion and 3) social cohesion, people-centred governance, rule of law and human rights.

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11 January 2023

A new journey towards better Montenegro

On 1 January 2023, Montenegro embarked on the implementation of the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the period 2023-2027, marking an important milestone in the country's journey towards achieving SDGs. New strategic development plan will be jointly implemented by 18 UN agencies in Montenegro and the Government of Montenegro, together with national and international partners. The UNSDCF 2023-2027 for Montenegro is focused on supporting the country in three strategic areas of cooperation jointly identified by the UN and the Government based on the specific needs of the country: inclusive economic development and environmental sustainability human capital development, reducing vulnerability and social inclusion social cohesion, people-centred governance, rule of law and human rights The UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro, Peter Lundberg, pointed out vast potentials which different UN organisations bring to support the country, stating that "the SDCF presents an opportunity for the UN to support Montenegro in its efforts to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs and to achieve the vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." The UNSDCF 2023-2027 is highly complementary to the EU accession process of the country, as both agendas aim to enhance country’s sustainable development and support its economic growth. "The UNSDCF is closely aligned with the EU accession process and supports the Government of Montenegro in its efforts to implement the EU acquis," said Mr. Lundberg praising Montenegro for proactively endorsing Agenda 2030 from its early days, and for the results achieved so far. Strong link between two major development processes was also emphasized by the Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazović who emphasized the importance of the joint UN-Montenegro development plan for the period 2023-2027, stating that "Agenda 2030 for Montenegro is of particular importance, considering that it accelerates fulfillment of obligations from the EU agenda bearing in mind that the two processes are to the greatest extent complementary.” Joining forces will be critical for UNSDCF implementation. As Mr. Lundberg noted, "the SDCF provides a roadmap for the UN and the Government of Montenegro to work together to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs, but it is only through the commitment and support of all stakeholders that we can hope to achieve the ambitious goals of the 2030 Agenda. We will need to work together to mobilize the necessary resources, both financial and human, to support the implementation of the UNSDCF and the achievement of the SDGs." The UNSDCF 2023-2027 for Montenegro is an ambitious plan and the strong foundation for SDGs acceleration in the country as well as for reaching its national priorities, primarily EU accession. By working together on its implementation in the next 5 years, the UN team and the Government, together with partners, will be joining forces to build a more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future for all the citizens of Montenegro.

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09 December 2022

Silencing hate

Podgorica, 8 December 2022 Dealing with hate speech was the central theme of the panel discussion "Silencing Hate" organized by the United Nations system ahead of International Human Rights Day, 10 December. People who were targeted by hate speech because of who they are, what they do or because of the perception that they are different, shared their experiences. Panelists and audience discussed possibille joint actions in facing the challenges that hate speech brings. The UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro Peter Lundberg, pointed out that Montenegro is experiencing an increase in hate speech and added that it is not the only country facing this problem. “Unfortunately, we are witnessing the global growth of misinformation, fake news and divisive narratives that lead directly to discrimination, hate speech and even hate crimes. The scale and impact today, especially with social media as a global platform for spreading hate, is greater and growing faster than ever. This is why the United Nations adopted the Global Strategy and Action Plan on Hate Speech in 2019, within which we strive to, in cooperation with partners, take actions aimed at combating hate speech. Because the fight against hate speech is the job of all of us," said Lundberg, stating that fighting hate speech does not represent limiting freedom of expression in an arbitrary or illegal way, but preventing hatred from escalating into discrimination, hostility and violence. The Minister of Human and Minority Rights, Fatmir Đeka, pointed out that Montenegro strives to maintain its European path and to improve respect for human rights as well as to persevere in strengthening tolerance and acceptance of diversity. "Hate speech should be reduced every day, by turning to content which can contribute to our further education, general culture, raising awareness of essential things. By repeating what has been said, we give additional importance to negative streams.We need to continuously suppress negative phenomena in society. The catalysts of every change, good or bad, are we, ourselves," Đeka said. The audience heard testimonies of panelists who were exposed to various forms of hate speech, among which were members of the Roma community, the LGBT community, persons with disabilities, women and others who were targeted by the hate speech. "I'm afraid we're normalizing hate speech and that's what worries me a lot. Hate speech is, above all, humiliation and persecution of those who are different, and it is high time for this topic to be opened seriously," said Sabina Talović from Pljevlja, who was a victim of hate speech. Human Rights Day is commemorated every year on 10 December 1948, when the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Since then, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been the basis for a growing system that promotes and protects the rights of all people in the world.

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Press Release

10 March 2023

UN Montenegro and governments of Montenegro and Switzerland signed a 2.5 million EUR contribution to the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund

Podgorica, 7 February 2023 The Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazović, the UN Resident Coordinator Peter Lundberg and the Ambassador of Switzerland to Montenegro Urs Schmid signed an agreement today on the allocation of 2,5 million EUR for the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund. The Fund is a new generation financial tool established by the UN team in the country, which seeks to pool donor funds that will be directed towards development initiatives. The Government of Montenegro allocated EUR 1 million for the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund, while the Government of Switzerland supported this initiative with EUR 1.5 million. Previously, the contribution to the Fund was determined by the Government of Luxembourg. "The idea and vision of this Government is to make Montenegro a white and green destination. It is not an easy job, because we have to change a lot, and we have to have sustainable projects. I am more than sure that this Fund will give us a chance to find a good project and that after its implementation we will have a much better situation in terms of sustainable development,“ said Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazović. Montenegro's contribution to sustainable development through this funding modality is particularly significant from the perspective of the country's size and economy. Montenegro hereby invests €1.3 per capita in sustainable development through the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund, which is more than all countries in the region. This also stands as clear indicator of Montenegro's strategic orientation towards sustainable development and cooperation with the United Nations. UN Resident Coordinator Peter Lundberg pointed out that the Fund has been designed as a powerful catalyst for accelerating SDGs implementation in the country. "The Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund is a common vision of accelerated achievement of Agenda 2030. Considering the enormous development potential, the Fund can be an important tool for country’s development and achievement of national priorities, primarely country's accession to the European Union," said Lundberg, adding that the Fund is the result of a true development partnership. Urs Schmid, ambassador of Switzerland, which is currently the largest donor to the Fund, pointed out that bilateral relations between Switzerland and Montenegro are very dynamic and that Switzerland is among the five largest foreign investors in Montenegro with around 800 million euros invested since 2003. "Switzerland's participation in the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund will further improve relations between our two countries and I believe that our contribution will encourage other countries and development partners to join this innovative financial mechanism and to contribute that way to acceleration of reforms in Montenegro," said Schmid. By consolidating and directing funds towards targeted development interventions, the Fund will be catalyzing not only SDGs but also acceleration of Montenegro's accession to the EU, given the high level of alignment between the Agenda 2030 and the EU accession process. The Fund is designed to support strategic initiatives in three priority areas of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027: 1) inclusive economic development and environmental sustainability, 2) human capital development, reducing vulnerability, social inclusion and 3) social cohesion, people-centred governance, rule of law and human rights.

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Press Release

20 May 2022

Further strengthening cooperation with the Parliament of Montenegro

Podgorica, 19 May 2022 The Parliament Speaker of Montenegro, Danijela Đurović, met with the UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro, Peter Lundberg. Thanking for the strong support of the UN to the reform agenda of our country, President Đurović emphasized that Montenegro highly appreciates the good cooperation and support of the UN system through active action in numerous areas, and expressed readiness to improve the partnership in the future by concretizing defined initiatives. and launching new joint projects. Pointing to the continuity of the political dialogue that our country has with the highest officials from the UN system, the Parliament Speaker reaffirmed Montenegro's strong commitment to fundamental UN values and respect for the Charter and international obligations, as well as achieving the goals defined in the 2030 Agenda. dedicated to preserving peace, security, development and protection of human rights. Referring to the issues of social inclusion, such as those that are in the center of UN policy, Djurovic emphasized that this issue, through her previous personal engagement in the Women's Club and the Gender Equality Committee, is one of the priorities of her further activities. She also said that through previous analyzes of the mentioned parliamentary bodies, it was clearly recognized that good practices of the UN system could significantly contribute to defining some future quality solutions in this area. In that context, she reminded of the importance of raising quotas, which would ensure the participation of women in parliamentary life, in the percentage of 40 percent. The Parliament Speaker also warned that, in that context, she is significantly concerned about the increase of hate speech, primerely on social networks, but also in public discourse in general, which is recognized as a problem that must be solved by adequate legislation in a way that would guarantee media freedoms and the right to copyright. Speaking about the importance and role of the Parliament as an important segment of political life, but also the challenges facing the new parliamentary majority, Djurovic reminded of the importance of encouraging and initiating political dialogue, the need to pass laws on the Parliament and the Government, focusing on electoral legislation political actors, and securing the necessary majority for key appointments in the judiciary. She expressed the expectation that, in overcoming all these challenges, "there will be enough political maturity to reach the main goal, which is the European perspective of Montenegro." UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro Peter Lundberg congratulated Ms. Đurović on her election for a Speaker of the Parliament of Montenegro and stressed that he is always encouraged by the appointment of women to leading positions in the country. He stressed out the importance of continuous and very constructive cooperation between Montenegro and the United Nations, emphasizing his expectation that this cooperation will be further strengthened through the upcoming five-year Strategic Framework for Cooperation for the period 2023-2027. "Through cooperation in the strategic areas of the five-year framework, the UN system will continue to support Montenegro in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and meeting national priorities, primarily EU accession," said Lundberg. He emphasizing that the achievement of these goals must be preceded by progress in the fields of environment through ecological transformation, social inclusion and social protection, but also strengthening the rule of law, independent institutions and guaranteeing social equality for all Noting that hate speech is a global problem, Lundberg pointed out that "it is necessary to fight against hate in all segments of life." The Resident Coordinator reiterated the UN's firm commitment to continuing and further strengthening cooperation with Parliament and the Government within the Organisation’s mandate, expressing readiness to offer necessary expertise and experience.

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Press Release

29 March 2022

Strong consensus on key priorities of future cooperation

The President of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović, met with the Resident Coordinator of the UN System in the country, Peter Lundberg, to discuss cooperation between Montenegro and the UN, as well as current internal and regional issues. The President expressed satisfaction and gratitude to Mr. Lundberg for initiating the meeting, expressing hope that the cooperation with institutions in Montenegro is going well in times of emergency, both externally and internally. He reiterated Montenegro's absolute commitment to the UN values and the UN Charter, as well as the country’s strong commitment to multilateralism, as confirmed during recent meetings with the UN Secretary-General Guterres and Under-Secretary Di Carlo. The President emphasized that Montenegro is very keen on cooperation with the UN Office and agencies in the country, emphasizing that we are in a very important period of defining the 5-year framework for cooperation for the period 2023-2027, which requires competencies and functional institutions in Montenegro capable to responsibly and efficiently respond to the needs of further cooperation. In the spirit of that commitment, the President expressed hope for a soon election of a new government, so that system is in place for strengthening cooperation with the UN. The UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro was very pleased with the meeting, expressing high appreciation for Montenegro's active involvement in the human rights system and its role in the Human Rights Council. Lundberg stressed full readiness of the UN system to support Montenegro in the process of fulfilling its obligations in this area, which is also important for the European integration process which is largely compatible with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Expressing gratitude for continuous partnership, Mr Lundberg informed the President about the development of the next strategic plan for cooperation, which builds upon excellent cooperation between Montenegro and the UN system in the previous 5-year cycle which mobilized funds worth $ 70 million to support sustainable development. Lundberg stressed that the priorities of the 5-year framework of cooperation include strengthening social cohesion, overcoming divisions, and combating hate speech underlining that, with the UN's impartial role, an important partnership can be achieved, especially with the groups such as youth and women. Reaffirming his commitment to human rights as a priority in cooperation with the UN and satisfaction with the renewed country's membership in the Human Rights Council, the President agreed with the envisaged priorities of the future framework of cooperation, emphasizing that social cohesion is a very important task of responsible state policy. While noting that certain progress has been achieved in that area, he emphasized that there is room for progress, but also expressed concern over the brutal offensive of nationalist political narratives for which do not aim toward emancipation and Europeanization. Regretting that we are going through such phases, he expressed optimism in continuing the strategic direction of movement through the adoption of the European value system. UN Resident Coordinator thanked the President for the detailed and open analysis of the current situation in the region and Europe, and expressed full support for Montenegro's European path in line with the common goals of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda.

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Press Release

10 December 2021

Free speech: cornerstone of democracy, but not excuse for spreading hate speech

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Although seemingly simple and straightforward, article 1 of the Universal Human Rights Declaration remains a far cry for many. Discrimination but also other violations of fundamental human rights remain a reality for too many people around the world today. Respect for the human rights of all is fundamental for sustainable peace and inclusive development. This was so the case in 1948, when the Universal Declaration was adopted, and it remains so today. In his Call to Action for Human Rights last year, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated that human rights are essential to addressing the causes and impact of today's complex crises, and to building sustainable, safe, and peaceful societies. In tackling the challenges we face, everyone’s opinion and criticism count. Everyone deserves space to express views freely and without fear, though – as international human rights law states – with respect for the special duties and responsibilities this freedom carries, one of which is respect for the rights of others. Here we have noted a challenge, one that is not unique to Montenegro: hate speech. We have observed hate speech based on ethnicity, national identity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political or religious affiliation. It denigrates, dehumanizes, discriminates and excludes. It has led to a few hate crimes. Hate speech can threaten peaceful societies as the Special Adviser on the Prevention Genocide, who leads the UN in tackling the phenomenon and who visited Montenegro in November, often warns about. On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, the UN Country Team in Montenegro calls for more rather than less speech to counter the challenge that hate speech presents to our societies. We call for speech that shows full respect for the humanity and dignity of the other. And we ask leaders, may they be political, religious or otherwise, but also those who have influence, like traditional and the online media, to serve as examples. Let us all use this essential freedom for what it is meant – to create free, open, respectful societies in which everyone has an opportunity to take part, makes their voice heard and to ultimately contribute to a better life for all.

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Press Release

17 November 2021

OHCHR: Symbols glorifying convicted war criminals should have no place in the public space

Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Liz Throssell
Location: Geneva
Date: 12 November 2021 We are concerned at events this week in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, where police stepped in to protect a mural of the convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic painted on a building in the city centre. The mural in Belgrade is not an isolated incident. Posters, graffiti, other materials and statements praising war criminals are found in other parts of Serbia, as well as in various towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and elsewhere in the region. Symbols glorifying convicted war criminals should have no place in the public space. Such symbols are all the more concerning given the recent rise in hate speech and denial of genocide and other atrocity crimes in the Western Balkans – developments that highlight the failure to address the past. The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is particularly worrying, where such trends are deepening divisions. We call on the authorities in the region to abide by their international human rights obligations to ensure the rights to truth, justice and reparation, as well as to adopt measures to prevent recurrence and to promote further reconciliation efforts. We call on them to condemn and refrain from all forms of hate speech and incitement to violence and to ensure the perpetrators of such acts are held accountable. The UN Human Rights Office stands ready to continue offering its guidance on human rights issues to help people in the Western Balkans move forward with the transitional justice processes that are so crucial for the region’s future. For more information and media requests, please contact:
Rupert Colville + 41 22 917 9767 / rupert.colville@un.org or
Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or
Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or
Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org Tag and share
Twitter @UNHumanRights
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Instagram @unitednationshumanrights Originaly posted on OHCHR website

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