The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Igor Lukšić, participated in the 30th session of the Council for Human Rights, as a high-level speaker at the plenary session.
During his stay in Geneva, Lukšić met with the Chairman of the Council for Human Rights, Ambassador Joakim Rucker, the High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein.
Among the activities of Montenegro at the national level, in his speech, the vice-president singled out regular reporting before treaty bodies, the submission of a Mid-term report on the implementation of the recommendations obtained through the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review, the results of the fight against discrimination, especially directed against LGBT persons, the protection of the vulnerable category of society.
Lukšič also announced Montenegro's candidacy for membership in this body in the period 2022-2024.
Speaking about the state of human rights on the international level, Lukšić emphasized the UPR as a mechanism that, for now, successfully overcomes the polarization of the international community in advocating for human rights. He also praised the work of special procedures, stressing that their role is to encourage states to improve the state of human rights. Lukšić also referred to the problems of human rights protection in the world, pointing out that it is important to have the political will to fight against contemporary threats, including terrorism, extremism, etc.
At the meeting with the chairman of the Council for Human Rights, the vice president pointed out that Montenegro's agenda is fully aligned with the foreign policy priority of membership in the European Union. The Chairman of the Council praised the consistency of Montenegrin statements, active and proactive role in the Council. He expressed his belief that Montenegro will continue to contribute to the work of the Council with the same intensity.
During the meeting with the High Commissioner for Refugees, opinions were exchanged on the current migration crisis in the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans, as well as the results of resolving the issue of refugees and internally displaced persons in Montenegro. Guterres informed Vice President Lukšić about the latest problems when it comes to the movement of migrants towards Western Europe. He praised the leadership role of Montenegro in the region when it comes to taking care of refugees. At the same time, the importance of the Montenegrin chairmanship of the Regional Initiative for Migration, Asylum and Refugees was highlighted.
In the conversation with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Vice President pointed to the activities of Montenegro in terms of cooperation with the OHCHR in the past three years of membership in the Council, complementary to the priority of European integration. The meeting also discussed the current problems of human rights protection in the world, especially the migration crisis and the need for more active action by the international community on this front.
Zeid also spoke affirmatively about the role of Montenegro in the work of the Council and the achievement of high standards in the field of human rights in the past period. He gladly accepted the invitation to come to Montenegro.
The visit of the Deputy Prime Minister successfully completes the three-year membership of Montenegro in the Council for Human Rights. The visit was also an opportunity to find modalities for closer cooperation with the OHCHR when it comes to building a national mechanism for implementing the recommendations of treaty bodies. In discussions with all high-ranking officials, it was concluded that in the past three years, Montenegro has succeeded in valorizing the results of improving the state of human rights within its borders on a wider international level, and the interlocutors encouraged the Government to continue its active role as a promoter of human rights and democratic values on the international stage.
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