Montenegro

MDGs in Montenegro: In the beginning

Regional and ethnic disparities within Montenegro were acknowledged in the report:

“Suffice it to say that there are significant regional variations in all of the MDGs notably at the municipal level.   For example,  in  the Northern, and  to a certain extent,  in  the  Central  parts  of  Montenegro,  the  incidence  of  poverty  is  far  higher  than  the Montenegro average.  Additionally, some ethnic and other groups are affected by poverty more than others, such  as  the  Roma,  Ashkaelia  and  Egyptian  minority  (RAE),  the  Internally  Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees.” (page 6)

The main development challenges that Montenegro faced at the time were related to governance (public administration capacities); corruption; social inclusion of all vulnerable groups; gender equality; and achieving a balance between economic development and the exploitation of natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The challenges were many but it was obvious that the country was not without potential. Montenegro was thought of as a small, dynamic economy with an excellent natural resource endowment that could provide the basis for a rapid upturn in the economy over the medium term, generating sufficient financial resources to address social issues without having to resort to sizeable external borrowing.

With, quite literally, a million or more things to do, it would be easy for authorities in Montenegro to lose grip on the effort to achieve the MDGs. Diligence alone would not be enough to get the job done. The country would need a plan. A number of plans, actually.

Between 2003 and 2008 the Government of Montenegro developed and adopted the following, all of which are instrumental in the effort to achieve the MDGs:

• Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (DPRS-PRSP),
• National Sustainable Development Strategy,
• National Action Plan for Children,
• Strategy on Child and Social Protection Development,
• Strategy on Inclusion of People with Disabilities,
• National Strategy on Roma Inclusion,
• National Action Plan for Gender Equality,
• National Action Plan for Decade of Roma Inclusion,
• Programme to Fight Corruption and Organized Crime 
• National Spatial Plan and
• National Energy Development Strategy

 

Challenges related to the implementation of these strategies include political commitments, state budget allocations and the development of the institutional capacity to execute the identified priorities.

Montenegro dissolved its state union with Serbia following a referendum in May 2006. The country was quickly recognized by the UN. Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic made his first address to the General Assembly as the leader of a sovereign state on September 20, 2006. Montenegrins had emerged from the darkness that engulfed the Balkans in the last decade of the 20th century and were looking to the future with hope The Prime Minister used the momentous occasion to acknowledge that Montenegro understood the vital necessity of the MDG effort and assure the world that he, his government and his country were committed to working with the international community to achieve the MDGs:

“The issues of today, such as international terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, illegal migration and trafficking, poverty, threats to the environment and so forth highlight the need for a common action. This vision of the future is exemplified in the Millennium Declaration, which projects the principles and goals of the Charter to the world in a new age, highlighting common responsibility and solidarity in order to accomplish a vision of a more secure, prosperous and just world. Without stability there is no democracy, just as without democracy there is no stability and sustainable economic development. These are interdependent processes that must take place simultaneously, which highlights the importance of accomplishing the Millennium Goals.

“With full awareness and responsibility we will continue to build in Montenegro stable institutions that guarantee the rule of law, freedoms, equality and non-discrimination, human and minority rights, as well as solidarity and market economy. We will also continue to promote multiethnic harmony and tolerance, demonstrating even more strongly that ethnic, cultural and religious diversity is enriching and conducive to greater stability and growth. It is also conducive to striking a balance between the state and the individual, between a way of life and the common system of values, fully in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. In this context I wish to express my gratitude for the efforts and support we have had from specialized UN agencies.” (pages 2 – 3)

Having attained independence in 2006, Montenegro’s government turned much of its attention to drafting and passing a Constitution in 2007. It completed the process on October 19, 2007.

Article 1 of the Constitution declared Montenegro the world’s first “ecological state”:

Montenegro is an independent and sovereign state, with the republican form of government.

Montenegro is a civil, democratic, ecological and the state of social justice, based on the rule of law. (emphasis added)

By declaring itself the world’s first ecological state, Montenegro once again demonstrated that it was committed to MDG7 (Ensure environmental sustainability).

Article 18 committed the government to the realization of MDG3 (Promote gender equality and empower women):

The state shall guarantee the equality of women and men and shall develop the policy of equal opportunities.

On the whole, the new Constitution was observed to be in accordance with the spirit of other modern democratic states.
 
On September 25, 2008 a High Level Event was held at UN Headquarters to take stock of what had been achieved so far in the global MDG effort. Montenegro’s President, Mr. Filip Vujanovic, was asked to tell a roundtable what his country had achieved, so far, in the areas of education and health care (MDG2 Achieve universal primary education, MDG4 Reduce child mortality, MDG5 Improve maternal health and MDG6 Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases).

In his speech, President Vujanovic reported that his country was, indeed, making progress:

“Studies on the mortality rate in children under 5 years of age show decreasing tendency, which makes achieving of this goal by 2015 possible.

“Under the Constitution of Montenegro, the right to education under equal conditions is guaranteed, and elementary education is obligatory and free of charge.

“In Montenegro, everyone has adequate access to the health services and the principle of equity in health has been fully observed.

“At the same time, active steps have been undertaken for the development of the program for prevention of mother and child neglect and awareness rising on women’s rights.

“Although HIV/AIDS morbidity rate is low in Montenegro, this problem has been seriously considered within a wider concept of social justice, equality and human rights.”