Montenegro

Montenegro UN Country Team’s statement on the occasion of Human Rights Day

The United Nations System in Montenegro observes the 10th of December, Human Rights Day, in order to remind each of us on the need for continued attention to this essential pre-requisite for the well-being of all human beings.

The date was chosen to honour the United Nations General Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the first global enunciation of Human Rights. The commemoration was established in 1950, when the General Assembly invited all states and interested organisations to mark this day.

The principles contained in the UDHR are the basis for preparation and implementation of programmes of all UN agencies worldwide and are enshrined in the subsequently enacted leading human rights treaties. Through their activities in Montenegro, all the UN agencies pay special attention to the rights of ethnic minorities and marginalized groups, including refugees and displaced persons, children, women etc. as well as to all other categories requiring attention in this field.

Following its independence, achieved on 3 June 2006, Montenegro succeeded to the majority of the core UN and other International Human Rights Instruments and became a member of the leading human rights organisations, such as the UN, the Council of Europe and OSCE. UN System stands ready to continue with assistance to the Government of Montenegro in further implementation of the standards contained in these treaties, which is a requirement for the membership in the European Union.

In order to observe appropriately the Human Rights day, members of the UN System in Montenegro invite the Government and people of Montenegro to join in realisation of the following activities: Campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.”

In this respect, a two-day seminar (“Stop Violence Against Women”) will be organized in order to review the possibilities for further improvement of legislation and institutional protection of victims of violence in the family. UN partners will also continue in their work to support protection of children from violence, abuse and neglect. A photo exhibition will also be organized on this occasion, in order to remind on the human rights of refugees and displaced persons.

Within the activities for the 60th anniversary of Human Rights Day, UN System will distribute copies of the UDHR to all members of the Parliament, in order to emphasise the utter importance of this contract between the Government and its people.

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