An amended list was sent to the Committee - 114 NGOs and nine activists are against religious education in schools

"The education system must remain a space of community, learning, and development based on science, instead of divisions based on dogmatic religious grounds"

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Illustration, Photo: Shutterstock
Illustration, Photo: Shutterstock
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

Civil society organizations and civic activists today submitted to the Parliamentary Committee for Education, Science, Culture and Sports an updated list of signatories of the initiative against the introduction of religious education into the education system.

They said that a total of 114 non-governmental organizations and nine civic activists stood in defense of secular public education in Montenegro.

"On this occasion, we would like to remind you that the civil society organizations that stood behind this initiative strongly oppose the introduction of religious education in public educational institutions, considering such a proposal contrary to the fundamental constitutional values ​​of the civil, secular state of Montenegro, as well as the best interests of children and youth," the statement reads.

It is stated that the education system must remain a space of community, learning, and development based on science, instead of divisions based on dogmatic religious grounds.

It is also recalled that religious instruction is prohibited by Article 5 of the General Law on Education, and attempts to abolish it "represent a serious threat to the secular character of the state."

"In the Montenegrin education system, there is a subject called History of Religion, which allows students to learn about all religions and their customs, thus encouraging interculturalism and togetherness, while religious education would separate the children of believers from the children of atheists, and would further separate the children of believers into different faiths, and further emphasize the divisions based on ethnic and religious distance in Montenegrin society, which are already pronounced," the statement reads.

Of particular concern, it is added, is the fact that the Parliament has given priority status to the petition for the introduction of religious education, even though the collection of signatures for that initiative is still ongoing, until May 10th.

"This represents a precedent and a disregard for the principle of equal treatment of all civic initiatives, as previous petitions with a sufficient number of signatures waited months for consideration – or never entered the parliamentary procedure. We call on the Parliament of Montenegro to act responsibly and in accordance with the Constitution, laws and the best interests of children and youth. State schools must not become a space for religious divisions – education must remain based on science and critical thinking, as well as the values ​​of living together in civil society," the statement reads.

The initiative is signed by:

  1. Human Rights Action (HRA)
  2. Center for Civic Education (CGO)
  3. Center for Women's and Peace Education ANIMA
  4. Educational community of Montenegro
  5. Now Femina
  6. SPEKTRA Association
  7. Center for Investigative Journalism (CIN-CG)
  8. Montenegrin PEN Center
  9. Montenegrin LGBTIQ association Kvir Montenegro
  10. Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK)
  11. KOD
  12. Yellow turtle – Normalizuj.me
  13. Municipal Multiple Sclerosis Association Bijelo Polje
  14. Association of Disabled Youth of Montenegro (UMHCG)
  15. Fine
  16. Juventas
  17. Agency for Local Democracy
  18. Ipso facto
  19. Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)
  20. Society of Montenegrin Publishers
  21. Ecological movement Ecopatriotism
  22. Center for Monitoring and Research (CeMI)
  23. Center for the Affirmation of the RE Population (CAREP)
  24. Montenegrin women's lobby
  25. Center for Democratic Transition (CDT)
  26. Center for Civil Liberties (CEGAS)
  27. Association of Lawyers of Montenegro
  28. Center for the Development of Non-Governmental Organizations (CRNVO)
  29. Sociological Center of Montenegro (SOCEN)
  30. LINK – Montenegrin Harm Reduction Network
  31. Bihor Cultural Center
  32. Association "Štrpci - Against Oblivion"
  33. Construction site
  34. Expeditio
  35. Empty space
  36. Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for the Protection of Human Rights
  37. Center for Women's Rights (CŽP)
  38. Corypheus Theater
  39. Pen
  40. Monte Linguistic
  41. Association of Professional Journalists of Montenegro (DPNCG)
  42. Association of History Professors of Montenegro – HIPMONT
  43. Safe Women's House (SŽK)
  44. Media Institute of Montenegro (IMCG)
  45. Legal representative
  46. Anti-fascists of Cetinje
  47. Institute for Gender Equality "Dulcinea"
  48. Ulcinj Info
  49. New Horizon
  50. HUSEIN PASHA
  51. Center for Multimedia Production (CEZAM)
  52. Association of Psychologists of Montenegro
  53. Training ground for female excellence - Sofia
  54. Active zone
  55. Dr Martin Schneider-Jacoby Association –MSJA
  56. Education Plus
  57. Balkan sector
  58. Bona Fide Pljevlja
  59. Alliance for Children and Youth – House
  60. Forum MNE
  61. Bosniak Forum of Montenegro
  62. Center for Economic and European Studies (CEES)
  63. ERA - Alliance for Equal Rights of LGBTI People in the Western Balkans and Turkey
  64. SOS Rožaje
  65. Training and Education Center
  66. Center for Roma Initiatives
  67. Monitoring Group Ulcinj – MogUL
  68. ALFA Center
  69. LBTQ Women's Association "Stana"
  70. Children of Montenegro
  71. Montenegrin Association of Political Science Students - MAPSS
  72. Roma youth organization "Walk with us - Phiren Amenca"
  73. Alumni Academy of the Faculty of Law, University of Montenegro
  74. Foundation for the Promotion of Science – Prona
  75. Montenegrin Cultural Circle
  76. Our action
  77. NOVA Center for Feminist Culture
  78. Bridge of Culture
  79. SOS hotline for women and children Nikšić
  80. My chance is also your chance.
  81. Heart
  82. MULTIMEDIAL Montenegro
  83. Social justice - Social justice
  84. Association of Parents of Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities "OAZA"
  85. 35 mm
  86. Potreba – Need
  87. Civic Initiative "21 May"
  88. Plan B
  89. International Police Organization of Montenegro
  90. System
  91. SkArt
  92. Kompas – Youth Information and Counseling Center Kotor
  93. Radio Brushkin
  94. Futura
  95. Sport Agon
  96. Pedagogical Center of Montenegro
  97. LGBT Forum Progress
  98. Foundation Volunteers of Montenegro
  99. IKRE – Rožaje
  100. SPES
  101. Happy moms
  102. Association Parents
  103. TNT
  104. From garden to table
  105. Period
  106. Civic Alliance
  107. You are not alone.
  108. Center for the Development of Social Economy
  109. Source of life Nikšić
  110. Youth Initiative for Human Rights
  111. Association of young ecologists Nikšić
  112. Zero Waste Montenegro
  113. Our action
  114. SOS hotline for women and children victims of violence – Podgorica

The initiative was also signed by:

  1. Dina Bajramspahić, civic activist
  2. Jovana Marović, civic activist
  3. Goran Đurović, civic activist
  4. Dragoljub Vuković, journalist and civic activist
  5. Tamara Milaš, civic activist
  6. Dušan Pajović, civic activist
  7. Aleksandar Dragićević, civic activist
  8. Tanja Pavicevic, journalist and civic activist
  9. Velibor Ivanović, civic activist

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